The Christmas Tree Ship

The three masted schooner Rouse Simmons set sail from Manistique in November of 1912, with a cargo of 5,500 Christmas trees bound for Chicago.

In the early 1900's, American naturalists became alarmed by the annual harvest of millions of young conifers. After all, it takes seven years to grow an average six foot Christmas tree. The math was working against American pine forests, and in true Christmas spirit, capitalism and environmentalism would come together to provide the solution. 

By 1920, Christmas tree farming had become a year round occupation, an industry that supplied virtually all of America. Today, Michigan is the fourth largest supplier of farmed Christmas trees, an industry that employs 100,000 people nationally. For every tree harvested in the U.S, three seedlings are planted. At any given time in America, there are 350 million Christmas trees in the process of growing.

In 1912, however, the future was as difficult to predict as a November storm on Lake Michigan.

Herman Schuenemann, captain of the Simmons, was affectionately known as "Captain Santa;" for his habit of giving away trees to families who couldn't afford them. He was, above all else though, a businessman. He knew a business opportunity when it appeared, and the 1912 holiday season presented Schuenemann with the opportunity of a lifetime.

By selling his Christmas trees right from the ship at the dock, Schuenemann was able to cut the wholesalers out, offering his trees at the lowest price while maximizing his profits. November snow had fallen heavy on the region, burying the tree farms and hampering Schuenemann's overland competitors. The resulting Christmas tree shortage in Chicago meant a windfall of profits, depending on how many trees Herman Schuenemann could deliver to the dock.

With all this in mind, Captain Santa and his Christmas tree ship sailed headlong, and grossly overloaded, into the jaws of one of Lake Michigan's notoriously deadly November gales. The Rouse Simmons was last seen afloat on November 23rd, 1912. She was low in the water, covered in ice, and flying flags of distress. By early December, Christmas trees were still washing ashore near Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

The Christmas tree ship disappeared that night with all seventeen hands. For decades, Lake Michigan sailors would report spotting a mysterious tall ship, which appeared out of nowhere with an evergreen lashed to her mast. 

In 1971, the Rouse Simmons was discovered in 165 feet of water. She lies upright, with her holds still full of cargo. Among the artifacts recovered were two Christmas trees, which were decorated and displayed nearly sixty years after the ship failed to arrive at her destination.

Americans purchase 30 million real Christmas trees every year, grown on the 350,000 acres of tree farms spread throughout the country. Today's modern Christmas tree ships are giant freighters inbound from China, where eighty percent of our artificial trees are manufactured.

Each year in early December however, the Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw makes a special voyage in honor of Herman Schuenemann. She sails from northern Michigan to Chicago, with a load of Christmas trees for underprivileged families.

I'm sure Captain Santa would approve.