Cenotaph

Capt Herman “Frank” Schuenemann

Birth: 1865
Algoma, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, USA
Death: 23 Nov 1912 (aged 46–47)
Two Rivers, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, USA
Cenotaph: Acacia Park Cemetery and Mausoleum

Norwood Park Township, Cook County, Illinois, USA Show Map GPS-Latitude: 41.9535197, Longitude: -87.8278599
Plot: Wisteria Section - Grave #4, Block #21, Lot #2
Memorial ID: 15624716 View Source

Capt. Schuenemann, affectionately known as "Captain Santa," Skipper of the Rouse Simmons, better known as the Christmas Tree Ship, was lost along with the rest of his crew (no bodies were recovered) in a fierce Lake Michigan storm off the coast of Two Rivers, Wisconsin in November 1912 while attempting to bring a cargo of freshly cut Christmas Trees from near Manistique, Michigan to Chicago for people who could not afford a Christmas Tree. His older brother August, nicknamed "Christmas Tree Schuenemann," met the same fate in a Lake Michigan storm near Glencoe on November 9, 1898 when his ship, the S. Thal, was carrying a load of Christmas Trees. August began the annual custom in 1876, and Herman began it in 1887. Herman's wife, Barbara, whom he married on April 9, 1891, and his daughters, Elsie (1/9/1892-1/31/1950), Hazel (10/6/1898-1/4/1969), and Pearl (10/6/1898-7/6/1991), continued to supply Christmas Trees for people who could not afford one into the late 1930's. The Christmas Tree Ship was located by scuba diver Kent Bellrichard on October 30, 1971.