German-American families in Chicago got terribly homesick at Christmas time and longed for a little
Christmas tree. Shipping captains from Michigan, beginning with August Schuenemann in 1890,
decided they would bring them trees from northern Michigan to Chicago, although the Great Lakes
are at their most treacherous in late November and December because of sudden, violent storms.
August's brother Hermann Schuenemann joined in the business in 1894, leasing a number of ships to
spread the Yule time joy. Even after August Schuenemann went down with all hands in 1899 aboard
a 52-ton, two-masted schooner when it sank in a storm near Glencoe, Illinois en route to Chicago
with a cargo of trees, Herman bravely continued the venture.
Christmas tree. Shipping captains from Michigan, beginning with August Schuenemann in 1890,
decided they would bring them trees from northern Michigan to Chicago, although the Great Lakes
are at their most treacherous in late November and December because of sudden, violent storms.
August's brother Hermann Schuenemann joined in the business in 1894, leasing a number of ships to
spread the Yule time joy. Even after August Schuenemann went down with all hands in 1899 aboard
a 52-ton, two-masted schooner when it sank in a storm near Glencoe, Illinois en route to Chicago
with a cargo of trees, Herman bravely continued the venture.
Instead of selling the Christmas trees wholesale to Chicago businesses, Herman Schuenemann docked
downtown and sold the trees directly to the public straight off the ship. He had the lowest prices in
the city at less than a dollar a tree, and sometimes, he also gave trees away to poor families, earning
him the nickname "Captain Santa". The arrival of his ship heralded the beginning of Christmas.
downtown and sold the trees directly to the public straight off the ship. He had the lowest prices in
the city at less than a dollar a tree, and sometimes, he also gave trees away to poor families, earning
him the nickname "Captain Santa". The arrival of his ship heralded the beginning of Christmas.
In 1910, Herman needed a new ship and he acquired the Rouse Simmons, an old, wooden, three-
masted schooner built in 1868. In November of 1912, one of the largest storm to ever hit the Great
Lakes, with winds of over 100mph and waves in excess of 50 feet, completely engulfed 8 large lake
freighters leaving not a single survivor. Despite the deadly weather and the poor condition of the
worn-out old ship, Captain Schuenemann had the ship loaded, and because the weather made
another trip unlikely, it carried more than his usual 5,000 trees.
masted schooner built in 1868. In November of 1912, one of the largest storm to ever hit the Great
Lakes, with winds of over 100mph and waves in excess of 50 feet, completely engulfed 8 large lake
freighters leaving not a single survivor. Despite the deadly weather and the poor condition of the
worn-out old ship, Captain Schuenemann had the ship loaded, and because the weather made
another trip unlikely, it carried more than his usual 5,000 trees.
Filling the ship's hold and even lashing the trees fifteen feet high on the deck resulted in the lower
booms having to be propped up on wood crutches to make them usable. One sailor jumped ship
before departure when he heard a rumor that the rats had abandoned it. It was snowing and the
temperatures were falling on November 21 when the Rouse Simmons started her 350 mile trip from
the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to Chicago. She vanished along with her 17 men.
booms having to be propped up on wood crutches to make them usable. One sailor jumped ship
before departure when he heard a rumor that the rats had abandoned it. It was snowing and the
temperatures were falling on November 21 when the Rouse Simmons started her 350 mile trip from
the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to Chicago. She vanished along with her 17 men.
A note was later found that some also believe to have been written by the first mate of the Rouse
Simmons: "These lines written at 10:30 p.m. Schooner R.S. ready to go down about 20 miles
southwest of Two Rivers Point between 15-20 miles offshore. All hands lashed to one line.
Goodbye." Nelson. The wreckage of the Rouse Simmons was found in 1971 near Two Rivers,
Wisconsin, its hold still filled with traces of the trees. The practice of transporting trees by schooner
ceased in 1920, as railways, highways and tree farms made it easier and cheaper to buy a tree. In
1971 the wreck itself was discovered by scuba diver. The ship's anchor was retrieved and now
stands at the entrance to the Milwaukee Yacht Club.
Simmons: "These lines written at 10:30 p.m. Schooner R.S. ready to go down about 20 miles
southwest of Two Rivers Point between 15-20 miles offshore. All hands lashed to one line.
Goodbye." Nelson. The wreckage of the Rouse Simmons was found in 1971 near Two Rivers,
Wisconsin, its hold still filled with traces of the trees. The practice of transporting trees by schooner
ceased in 1920, as railways, highways and tree farms made it easier and cheaper to buy a tree. In
1971 the wreck itself was discovered by scuba diver. The ship's anchor was retrieved and now
stands at the entrance to the Milwaukee Yacht Club.
She was sighted near Two Rivers, Wisconsin the next day flying a distress signal, her sails torn and
deck encrusted with ice, floundering through the waves, apparently made top-heavy by her cargo.
The Two Rivers Lifesaving Service station at once launched a 34' power boat, the Tuscadora, to go
to the Rouse Simmons, but within a thousand feet of the stricken ship, a sudden snow squall cut all
visibility, and by the time the lifeboat crew could see, the ship was gone, and never seen again.
deck encrusted with ice, floundering through the waves, apparently made top-heavy by her cargo.
The Two Rivers Lifesaving Service station at once launched a 34' power boat, the Tuscadora, to go
to the Rouse Simmons, but within a thousand feet of the stricken ship, a sudden snow squall cut all
visibility, and by the time the lifeboat crew could see, the ship was gone, and never seen again.
Chicago newspapers called 1912 "the year without Christmas," and the sad fate of the Rouse
Simmons became legendary when, for years afterwards, sailors reported seeing a ghost ship with a
deck piled high with Christmas trees. Hermann's widow continued the Christmas Tree business for
another 21 years with their three daughters, but by railroad. She ingeniously leased an old wreck of a
ship tied up at the usual Chicago dock and loaded the trees on it after they arrived by train. The
daughters made Christmas wreaths on the ship as an added attraction.
Simmons became legendary when, for years afterwards, sailors reported seeing a ghost ship with a
deck piled high with Christmas trees. Hermann's widow continued the Christmas Tree business for
another 21 years with their three daughters, but by railroad. She ingeniously leased an old wreck of a
ship tied up at the usual Chicago dock and loaded the trees on it after they arrived by train. The
daughters made Christmas wreaths on the ship as an added attraction.
| The Year without Christmas |
A message in a bottle from the Rouse Simmons washed onto the shore at Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It
had been corked using a small piece of cut pine tree and, other than the occasional trees caught in
fishing nets, was the only remains of the vessel discovered for many years. The message read:
"Friday … everybody goodbye. I guess we are all through. During the night the small boat washed
overboard. Leaking bad. Invald and Steve lost too. God help us".
had been corked using a small piece of cut pine tree and, other than the occasional trees caught in
fishing nets, was the only remains of the vessel discovered for many years. The message read:
"Friday … everybody goodbye. I guess we are all through. During the night the small boat washed
overboard. Leaking bad. Invald and Steve lost too. God help us".
