Six to 7-foot trees sold for 25 cents to $1. A few hotels and businesses preordered 20-foot trees and paid more. Those trees not sold would be given to poor families, churches and orphanages.
Captain Schuenemann was an excellent marketer and a bit of a showman. He and his family were members of a church known in those days as the German United Evangelical Lutheran St. Pauls Congregation,back then located at LaSalle Drive and Ohio Street. Today it is St. Pauls United Church of Christ on North Orchard Street in Lincoln Park.
They will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Christmas Tree Ship on Nov. 18th. One of those attending will be retired Dr. William Ehling of Streator, Schuenemann's grandson.
Captain Schuenemann was a jovial spirit who would go to Manisque and Thompson, Michigan where he and his men would go out into the woods and with local help, cut the trees down, load his ship and sail home. This would take about six weeks. If everything worked out, he would spend the holidays with his family and make a profit.
Way Back before Artificial Trees. --Cooter
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