Thursday, February 7, 2013

Chicago's Famed Christmas Tree Ship-- Part 1

From the November 11, 2012, Chicago Tribune Chicago Flashback "When the Christmas spirit foundered in Chicago" by Tony Trowbridge.

Captain Herman Schuenemann was called "Captain Santa" because for 25 years he sailed fresh-cut trees to Chicago to the southwest corner of the Clark Street bridge.  "For Chicagoans, this meant one thing: Christmas was just around the corner."

He used a variety of ships in the late 1800s-early 1900s, including the Mary Collins, the Margaret  Dal, the Ida, the Truman Moss and the George L. Wren.  But the best-known and most beloved was the old schooner Rouse Simmons.

Word of his arrival would soon spread and thousands of stacked trees would be on the deck.  The good captain would tie a Christmas tree atop the main mast and he would string colored lights on the 127-foot boat.  His wife and daughters would make wreaths and garlands.

And, Captain Schuenemann knew how to sell Christmas trees.  Cut out the middleman and sell direct to the people.  He would hand a hand-printed sign on the dock saying: "The Christmas Tree Ship.  My prices are the lowest."

Is It Too Soon to Get Into the Christmas Spirit?  --DaCoot


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