Lives and Legends of the Christmas Tree Ships brings the maritime heritage of the Great Lakes to life, using the tragic story of the schooner Rouse Simmons as a porthole into the robust but often forgotten communities that thrived along Lake Michigan from the Civil War to World War I.
Memorialized in songs, poems, fiction, and even a musical, the infamous ship that went down in a Thanksgiving storm while delivering Christmas trees to Chicago has long been shrouded in myth and legend. As a result, the larger story of the captain, crew, and affected communities has often been overlooked. Fred Neuschel delves into this everyday life of camaraderie, drudgery, ambition, and adventure—with tales of the Midwest’s burgeoning immigrant groups and rapid industrialization—to create a true story that is even more fascinating than the celebrated legends.
1 The Disappearance of the Schooner Rouse Simmons 1
2 Lake Michigan Short-Haul Sailors 18
3 The Sailors' School of Hard Knocks 34
4 Ahnapee, Wisconsin-a Maritime Community 49
5 The Clique Takes Control 65
6 Sailors in the Battle for the Harbor 79
7 Ahnapee's Golden Decade 92
8 Captain McDonald, Fortune Seeker 107
9 Captain Armstrong: Working for "the Man" 119
10 The End of the Maritime Community 133
11 The Last of the Short-Haul Sailors 144
12 The Schuenemann Brothers 155
13 Herman Schuenemann Becomes Captain Santa 171
14 Lies, Mistakes, and Hoax 185
15 Unseaworthy 201
16 A Story to Pass On 213
Vessels That Engaged in the Christmas Tree Trade on Lake Michigan, 1876-1920 220
Captains Who Engaged in the Christmas Tree Trade on Lake Michigan 227
Newspaper Reports of Vessels Used by or on Behalf of August or Herman Schuenemann 229
Notes 235
Sources 261
Acknowledgments 269
Index 271
Anonymous
Posted December 2, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
Lives and Legends of the Christmas Tree Ships brings the maritime heritage of the Great Lakes to life, using the tragic story of the schooner Rouse Simmons as a porthole into the robust but often forgotten communities that thrived along Lake Michigan from the Civil War to World War I.
Memorialized in songs, poems, fiction, and even a musical, the infamous ship that went down in a Thanksgiving storm while delivering Christmas trees to Chicago has long been shrouded in myth and ...