Chicago's Christmas Tree Shipwreck incident (Chicago's Weirdest Story) - IT'S HISTORY

As one of the most bizarre shipwrecks of all time, the Christmas Tree shipwreck has perplexed many in the decades since it occurred. But this story is not as far back as one might assume— and did you know that this strange case was finally solved just 50 years ago? On this Christmas Episode of It’s History, we’ll be exploring the elusive Christmas Tree shipwreck of the Rouse Simmons.

Chapters:
Chicago's Christmas Tree Ship - 00:00
History of Schooners on Lake Michigan - 00:34
A history of the Rouse Simmons - 01:41
How were Christmas trees delivered to old Chicago? - 03:06
Who was Captain Santa? - 04:24
The Rouse Simmons final voyage - 07:17
The disappearance of the Rouse Simmons - 08:02
The first sightings of the Rouse Simmons in distress- 08:49
Who survived the Christmas Tree shipwreck? - 09:59
All hope is lost for the Rouse Simmons - 10:35
The lost Christmas trees of the Rouse Simmons - 11:22
Was the Rouse Simmons really fit for travel? - 11:58
The aftermath of the Christmas Tree disaster - 12:41
The story of Elsie Schuenemann - 14:59
How did the Schuenemann family keep the business alive? - 16:13
The demise of the Christmas tree schooners - 16:37
How was the wreckage of the Rouse Simmons discovered? - 17:25

IT’S HISTORY - Weekly tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.

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» CREDIT
Scriptwriter - Roy Lane
Editor - Rishi Mittal
Host - Ryan Socash

» SOURCES
References

[1] These excerpts were taken from Prologue Magazine Winter 2006, Vol. 38, No. 4; The Christmas Tree Ship by Glenn V. Longacre; National Archives website https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2006/winter/christmas-tree.html

[2] Chicago Tribune newspaper (Chicago, Illinois) for December 5, 1912 page 1 (story is titled “Christmas Ship Lost on the Lake with 17 On Board”)

[3] The Akron Beacon Journal newspaper (Akron, Ohio) for December 5, 1912, page 1 (story is titled “Only Member of Crew Who Escaped…”)

[4] The Inter Ocean newspaper (Chicago, Illinois) for December 10, 1912 page 2 (story is titled “Rouse Simmons is Believed Sunk in Lake Storm”)

[5] Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) for December 7, 1912 page 8 (story is titled “Trees from Ship May Help Widow”)

[6] The Inter Ocean newspaper (Chicago, Illinois) for December 10, 1912 page 2 (story is titled “Sailor’s Family is to be Helped by Subscriptions”)

Photographs

[7] National Maritime Historical Society website (page is titled “Christmas Tree Ship Rouse Simmons”, photograph is captioned “The 1868 Schooner Rouse Simmons. Photo – Wisconsin Historical Society”)
https://seahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/Rouse_Simmons-WHS.jpg

[8] National Maritime Historical Society website (page is titled “Christmas Tree Ship Rouse Simmons”, photograph is captioned “The Rouse Simmons alongside the dock in Chicago. A few unsold trees can be seen by the main mast. Photo – Wisconsin Historical Society”)
https://seahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/SIMMONS-deck-cabin-crop.jpg

[9] National Maritime Historical Society website (page is titled “Christmas Tree Ship Rouse Simmons”, photograph is captioned “Herman Schuenemann a.k.a. “Captain Santa” (center), with two members of his crew on the deck of the Rouse Simmons. Photo – Chicago Historical Society”)
https://seahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/herman.jpg

[10] Michigan in Pictures website (page is titled “Remembering Michigan’s Christmas Tree Ships”, photograph is captioned “Above is a portrait of Elsie Schuenemann at the wheel of the Christmas Ship…”)
https://michpics.wordpress.com/2021/11/22/remembering-michigans-christmas-tree-ships/

[11] National Maritime Historical Society website (page is titled “Christmas Tree Ship Rouse Simmons”, photograph is captioned “The Rouse Simmons wreck at the bottom of Lake Michigan. Local divers place an evergreen tree on the bow each fall in honor of her legacy as a Christmas Tree ship. Photo – Wisconsin Historical Society”)
https://seahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/Rouse-Simmons-underwater-WHS.jpg

» NOTICE
Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.