BRIEF: St. Paul celebrates captain of Christmas tree ship 

BRIEF: St. Paul celebrates captain of Christmas tree ship

Nov 18, 2012 (Menafn - Chicago Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --A hundred years after a schooner loaded high with Christmas trees was lost in the icy waters of Lake Michigan, St. Paul's United Church of Christ celebrated the generosity of a former church member who also happened to be the ship's captain.

St. Paul's in Lincoln Park celebrated Herman Schuenemann's generosity with a special presentation during services Sunday. On Nov. 23, Chicago will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Schuenemann's ship, the Rouse Simmons, and the loss of its crew in a storm.

The Rouse Simmons was of one of several dozen vessels that crossed the lake around the turn of the century to harvest Christmas trees from the pine forests of Northern Michigan.

"That generosity and courage were not unique to the Schuenemann family but rather an expression of our church," said the Rev. Matt Fitzgerald, senior pastor of St. Paul's.

In October, Chicago's City Council authorized the placement of a cast bronze plaque next year on the southwest corner of the Clark Street bridge. On Sunday, the congregation sold raffle tickets to pay for the plaque.

efmeyer@tribune.com

Twitter: @ErinMeyer1

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