In 1912 there was a Christmas Tragedy when kids in Chicago didn’t get their Christmas Trees after the Rouse Simmons sank in a violent storm with its large load of 5500 evergreen trees. Not only did the trees vanish below the surface so did the entire crew aboard.

Herman Schuenemann the owner of the ship was also known as “Captain Santa” because he gave away trees to needy families and churches. He and his brother had been selling trees since the early 1900’s directly to Chicago residents’ dockside by Clark Street Bridge. They placed a tree atop the main mast of the ship and electric Christmas lights hung on it basically turning the Rouse Simmons into a life sized ornament.

On its final voyage there was a storm brewing and many men refused to board the ship. Trees were crammed into every available space on the schooner to make the biggest profit possible during this time of year. The captain also offered Lumberjacks a ride back to Chicago to spend the holidays with their families.. After the ship left Thomson Michigan full of evergreens the storms worsened during the night. The Simmons was last seen on November 23rd, 1912 with a flag flying half mast signaling distress, tattered sails and covered in ice. A message in a bottle washed up in Sheboygan that read “Friday … everybody goodbye. I guess we are all through. During the night the small boat washed overboard. Leaking bad. Invald and Steve lost too. God help us”.

It wasn’t until 1971 when the wreckage was discovered by Gordon Kent Bellrichard who was searching for the Vernon shipwreck and had heard about fishermen dragging up Christmas trees in their nets. It is said that the weight of the trees was way above the recommended weight and likely contributed to the sinking and trees washed up on the beach for years. Today the Rouse Simmons sits upright on the bottom and I could make out remains of trees still in its cargo holds and dead eyes along the rails. The masts are broken off and its rigging is forward of the bow looking like it hit hard and bow first when it sank. This wasn’t the only ship lost during that storm and its story is still a powerful one today showing what dangerous jobs shipping was during this time and how people risked their lives on the water just to bring some Christmas joy to others.

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