ILLINOIS – Following the annual lighting of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree on Dec. 1, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie hosted a special webinar on the benefits to the environment of vegetation management. The program commemorated Chicago’s famed Christmas Tree Ship, the Rouse Simmons.

On Nov. 23, 1912, the Rouse Simmons, a three-masted schooner carrying Christmas trees for Chicagoans, sank in Lake Michigan during a severe storm. The Rouse Simmons had set out on its annual voyage from Upper Michigan's forests to Chicago, where her highly anticipated arrival was celebrated every year. Captain Herman Schuenemann and his crew docked the Rouse Simmons in the same spot each year – the south side of the Clark Street Bridge on the Chicago River. But the Rouse Simmons never made it to Chicago that year. In 1973, a diver from Milwaukee found the Rouse Simmons 12 miles northeast of Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

Captain Schuenemann was widely known for giving trees to Chicagoans in need. To honor the generosity of Captain Schuenemann and the legacy of the Rouse Simmons – also known as the “Christmas Tree Ship” – the U.S. Coast Guard re-enacts the journey of the Rouse Simmons and coordinates distribution of trees to Chicagoans in need from the Cutter Mackinaw at Navy Pier during the first week of December each year. The USCG outreach is one of many ways in which the Rouse Simmons is remembered. The story has inspired books, exhibitions, theatrical performances and songs.

Interpreter Lee Murdock started off the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie program singing his popular song, “The Christmas Tree Ship.” Murdock’s song depicts when Chicagoans looked forward to the arrival of the Rouse Simmons each year, and that tragic day when the ship did not arrive. Murdock sings the song each year from the Cutter Mackinaw as trees are distributed.

Chicago Maritime Museum Curator Dylan Hoffmann provided photos and information that told the history of the Christmas Tree Ship. He explained that in the late 1800s and early 1900s, there were many ships and schooners that carried Christmas trees from faraway forests into Chicago, which was surrounded by prairie. Hoffmann said Captain Schuenemann’s family stitched together some income for themselves even in the weeks after the Rouse Simmons sank; they pulled up trees from the Chicago River that had gone overboard from other vessels and they sold those.    

USDA Forest Service Eastern Region Timber Contracting Officer Justin Burkey talked about benefits to the environment of vegetation management, including tree harvesting. “Research shows that forest health affects our water, air and essential habitat for wildlife,” he said. “Vegetation management can reduce competition for resources, soil nutrients and sunlight. Nature thins out a forest on its own – allowing trees to grow stronger and healthier – and vegetation management can mimic nature but speeds the process.”

Burkey provided links and information about the USDA FS Christmas tree permitting process through Recreation.gov. He talked about free trees for fourth graders through the Every Kid Outdoors program.