Monday, December 05, 2005

Christmas Tree Ship Visits Harbor Springs

The US Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw paid a Christmas visit to Harbor Springs on November 30th, dropping off 220 Christmas trees to be delivered to area families in need. The Mackinaw was enroute to Chicago to deliver 2000 Christmas trees to disadvantaged families. The Mackinaw's Christmas tree run to Chicago keeps alive the great tradition of those brave sailors who risked their lives almost a century ago to bring a little bit of the Christmas spirit to Chicago.

The original "Christmas Tree Ship", the Rouse Simmons, a three masted schooner, was captained by Herman Schuenemann. The Rouse Simmons would arrive in Chicago each year shortly after Thanksgiving fully loaded with pines, which were sold directly to residents for 50 cents to $1. Capt. Schuenemann also gave away trees to needy families. He became known in Chicago as "Captain Santa," and the Christmas season in Chicago would not officially start until the arrival of Schuenemann's Christmas Tree Ship.

In late November of 1912, the Rouse Simmons was caught in a wintry gale bound for Chicago brimming with over 5,000 fresh-cut Michigan trees as cargo. The Captain and all seventeen crewmembers were lost, but their legend lives on in books, a play, paintings and a tv documentary.

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