It was known as the christmas tree ship and was one of many schooners to transport christmas trees across the lake. I love this artistic style which makes me think of mythical tales and legendary lives and events. The wreck of the christmas tree ship captain nelson craite rubbed the icy rain off his binoculars and took another look. His favorite was always the retelling of captain schuenemann and the christmas tree ship, rouse simmons. For those of us who grew up with christmas trees, they evoke the magical side of childhood.
The legend of northern michigans christmas tree ship. Coast guard vessel has reenacted the voyage of the christmas tree ships to chicago. This is great way to escape the whirlwind of cookie baking, being stuck in traffic, and wrapping. Delivery surcharges and 2day and overnight shipping charges still apply. For those of us who grew up with christmas trees, they evoke the magical side of. The christmas schooner music theatre international.
Ultimately, the christmas tree ship is a story of family and community. However, with railroads, highways, and tree farms proving much more economical, the tree shipping industry was on a steep decline and they had stopped sailing by 1920. Christmas tree ship by jeanette winter, paperback barnes. Herman schuenemann and about 15 others who were on board. The story of captain santa by pennington, rochelle m. If youre hoping to do something different this holiday season, celebrate christmas on a cruise.
The christmas tree ships schoolcraft county historical society. With its cargo of christmas trees, the ship was bound for chicago. And of sixteen souls that made the trip and of death in the. I loved reading rochelles first christmas tree ship book i wanted more information about the story. Rochelle pennington is an awardwinning newspaper columnist and bestselling author of ten books including highlighted in yellow available in four languages.
Perhaps the allure of a heartwarming story mixed with shipwrecks, christmas, ghosts, and lake michigans many mysteries proves irresistible to children of all ages. Chris ellison describes the annual voyage of the rouse simmons ship bearing christmas trees to chicago, highlighting its final tragic voyage in 1912, when the captain, crew, and cargo were all lost, and the ships. Christmas tree ship rouse simmons project home facebook. Schuenemann and the schooner rouse simmons that details the schuenemanns story which we start below. The first documented christmas tree ship to arrive in chicago was the schooner reindeer on december 4, 1876.
The story of the beginning of the christmas tree ship is the story of the schuenemann family, and most particularly the story of capt herman schuenemann and his last ship, the rouse simmons. Mystery of the christmas tree ship that sunk near two rivers. The christmas tree ship kindle edition by crane, carol. Jan 03, 20 the legend of the christmas tree ship is not forgotten in chicago. A local theater company performs a production designed around the story of the rouse simmons disaster and the coast guard cutter mackinaw continues the tradition of delivering trees for charity in remembrance of the kind efforts of chicagos captain santa.
Of all the tales of ships lost to the lake, there is only one that involves a cargo of christmas trees and the death of a man known as captain santa. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the christmas tree ship. How to celebrate christmas on a cruise with pictures. Rochelle penningtons short story, the christmas tree ship, is a wonderful introduction to this enchanting part of chicago lore, and her new followup book, the. This is inspiring story of captain santa who sailed a threemasted schooner on lake michigan 100 years ago, delivering each december thousands of christmas trees to be sold to chicago families. This ship, loaded with christmas trees for chicago, sailed into the years worst storm and disappeared on november 23, 1912, taking with it capt. A true story of faith, hope and love rochelle pennington on. Summary every year elsie, pearl, and hazel help their father gather christmas trees to take to the big city on his ship. The christmas tree ship by carol crane, chris ellison. The christmas tree ship philomel books, october 6, 1994 written and illustrated by jeanette winter is based upon the true story of captain herman schuenemann. Chicago may not have an ocean, but we do have lake michigan. This is a 35minute long video about the ships story and also includes underwater footage of the ship, southport video, 1992. Read this book and over 1 million others with a kindle unlimited membership.
Our everchanging selection of surprising finds offers endless possibilities to celebrate both special occasions and everyday living at a great value. Life saving station, on the waters edge of kewaunee, wisconsin, because its fogged up windows made viewing the lake impossible from inside. The fate of the christmas tree ship, in great minds great lakes. The argosy cruises christmas ship festival is a shiptoshore holiday celebration that has been a northwest tradition since 1949. Nov 22, 2011 chicago may not have an ocean, but we do have lake michigan. The legend of the christmas tree ship is a true sto. This man used his fishing schooner, the rouse simmons, to deliver evergreen trees from the upper peninsula of michigan to chicago beginning in 1887. Folded book christmas tree book christmas tree, christmas tree alternative christmas tree designs made with books christmas. Chris ellison has illustrated childrens picture books and adult historical fiction for nearly 20 years. The christmas tree ship by carol crane readaloud revival. The woodcut pictures perfectly match the oldworld setting of this story which takes place in the late 1800s. One year, tragedy strikes and his ship goes down in a storm. The holiday nature of the ships crew and mission lends a special sadness to the story of the doomed rouse simmons, more commonly known as. Told through the eyes of a young boy, he recalls his grandfather axels tales.
Chris ellison describes the annual voyage of the rouse simmons ship bearing christmas trees to chicago, highlighting its final tragic voyage in 1912, when the captain, crew, and cargo were all lost, and the ship s. The spirit of seattle, the official christmas ship, is decorated with hundreds of shimmery white lights and sails to different puget sound waterfront communities around 65. Dec 24, 2015 the legend of northern michigans christmas tree ship. Nov 15, 2016 this is inspiring story of captain santa who sailed a threemasted schooner on lake michigan 100 years ago, delivering each december thousands of christmas trees to be sold to chicago families. We couldnt make this happen without the help of individuals and groups that support us through financial and inkind donations. The wreck of the christmas tree ship the history bandits. This is the tale of the christmas ship that sailed oer the sullen lake.
With the scrumptious smell of grandmas ginger cookies surr. Christmas tree ship went down on the lake 100 years ago. I purchased the book after attending one of rochelles presentations on the tale of the christmas tree ship, an event which i also enjoyed very much. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. His book let them play was a 2006 notable social studies. To add to the realism of the story some of the paintings are done in sepia tones to convey the early 1900s era. It is a great book for the season, and is a wonderful piece on the famous ship. There were several ships that made the annual trip, but the most famous was captain herman e. Thus began the dangerous, but highly profitable christmas tree trade. In honor of this great tradition, mystic seaport has published boxed christmas cards with the image of the rouse simmons docked in the port of chicago by artist carol dyer. This book has since become a family favorite and we read it every christmas. Jeanette winter each winter captain herman fills his fishing schooner with christmas trees, sails down lake michigan, and delivers trees to the residents of chicago. The christmas tree ship and millions of other books are available for amazon. On november 21, 1912, the schooner rouse simmons set sail from a small northern michigan town across lake michigan.
The christmas tree ship book seawolf communications. Sep 08, 2011 the christmas tree ship is a beautifully illustrated childrens book. The holiday nature of the ships crew and mission lends a special sadness to the story of the doomed rouse simmons, more commonly known as the christmas tree ship. It was over 100 years ago, but the final chapter of the legendary ship, the rouse simmons, that disappeared off the lake shore coast in 1912, has yet tobe written. Story time just got better with prime book box, a subscription that delivers editorially handpicked.
The christmas tree ship by jeanette winter goodreads. Longacre christmas tree schooner by charles vickery. He has also written a book called lives and legends of the christmas tree ships available from um press. Today, the chicago marine community and the united states coast guard have revived this christmas tree ship tradition. When the ship does not return one year, the girls and their mother know what they must do. Christmas tree ship rouse simmons project, two rivers, wi. The historic christmas tree ship is overflowing with early 1900s newspaper articles, historic photographs, and more details surrounding the story of captain schuenemann and his family than you could even imagine. The national archive also has the christmas tree ship. Students will use web sites, books, and songs to gather information about the rouse. The christmas tree ship was a three masted schooner that was easily recognized by waiting crowds when they saw a christmas tree tied to her main mast and her decks loaded with thousands of christmas trees destined for chicago families. Chicagos christmas ship the original christmas tree ship. With a cargo full of christmas trees, the ship was bound for chicago when it foundered off two rivers, wisconsin killing all on board. The historic christmas tree ship is the most comprehensive book to ever come out on the rouse simmons and is loaded with photography.
The legend of the christmas tree ship is not forgotten in chicago. Mariners reported seeing a ghostly schooner in the fog, and the ship took on status as a local flying dutchman. The christmas tree ship kindle edition by crane, carol, ellison, chris. The oil and acrylic color illustrations by chris ellison are superb and capture the emotions of the story. The whole family will enjoy this heartwarming story of the first christmas tree ship and the family who risked their lives to fill chicago with the christmas spirit. The story is fiction but is based on historical facts. Today the legend of captain schuenemann and the christmas tree ship appeals to a large and varied audience, but children seem most attracted to the story. Dec 18, 2014 it was over 100 years ago, but the final chapter of the legendary ship, the rouse simmons, that disappeared off the lake shore coast in 1912, has yet tobe written.
The christmas tree ship is a beautifully illustrated childrens book. Christmas tree ship centennial at rogers street fishing village. The tale of the fabled schooner, rouse simmons, is the most famous christmas story to emerge from the great lakes. Affectionately dubbed the christmas tree ship, this was an annual trek for the rouse simmons. Dec 07, 2016 in 1912, the rouse simmons schooner sunk in a violent storm on lake michigan. A scuba diver finally located the wreckage of the ship off two rivers in 1971. Jeanette winter each winter captain herman fills his fishing schooner with christmas trees, sails down lake michigan, and delivers trees to.
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