Much like many of us today, people 100 years ago like to have pine trees in their home for the holiday season. However those that lived in large cities like Chicago had trouble finding trees. Enter lumber schooners who on their last trip of the year would often load their deck and hold with evergreens to bring to the market and sell. Today we look at one of these schooners history and fate as we delve into the story of the Rouse Simmons, better known as the Christmas Tree Ship. 

Cover Photo from the Collection of the Wisconsin Historical Society