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The Christmas Tree Ship

from Shipwrecks by Accoustic Michigan

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lyrics

CLICK ON THE ARROW ABOVE TO PLAY THE SONG

The Rouse Simmons sank November 23rd, 1912. Herman Schuenemann was known as Captain Santa because he brought Christmas Trees to Chicago from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for 30 years. Captain Schuenemann and his entire crew perished that day.

Photograph:

This is a photograph I took while at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum of the amazing painting by Eric Nils Forsberg called "Sailing Into Eternity." Eric called returned my call and personally gave me permission to use this image, for which I'm very grateful. You can purchase prints at: http://www.mcbridegallery.com/forsberg.html

The Christmas Tree Ship

Now this Christmas story is a true Christmas tale.
Many years ago the Christmas Tree Ship sailed.
Known as Captain Santa, he came without fail.
Bringing Christmas trees every year from the great North.
The people all bought their Christmas trees at the port.
And kept their Christmas trees glowing through the night.
The Christmas Tree Ship made Christmas merry and bright.

Then one Christmas the Christmas Tree Ship never arrived.
The people all wondered and the little children cried.
It was the Christmas that never arrived.
For a gale arose on the Great Lake before even tide.
The good Captain Santa nor any of his crew survived.
The Christmas tree ship sailed no more.
She lay somewhere beneath the Great Blue.
And where she lay no one knew.

Now others rose up to honor Captain Santa’s memory.
Bringing from the North without fail, Christmas trees.
And the people once again bought their Christmas trees at the port.
And kept their Christmas trees glowing through the night.
So the Christmas Tree Ship still makes Christmas merry and bright.
For the spirit of Christmas Tree Ship still survives.
And the legacy of Captain Santa is still alive.


Other Links:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/events-mark-100-year-anniversary-of-sinking-of-christmas-tree-ship-eg7nnab-180535541.html

http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2006/winter/christmas-tree.html

http://www.rochellepenningtonbooks.com/christmastreeship.html

http://www.wbez.org/blog/john-r-schmidt/2011-11-22/christmas-tree-ships-94161

credits

from Shipwrecks, track released November 5, 2013

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Accoustic Michigan Mount Pleasant, Michigan

These songs reflect Great Lakes themes. They include Tall Ships, Shipwrecks, Hemingway, and an album about about people and place of Michigan called Michigama.

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