The Legend of the Christmas Ship

by Carl Behrend

A story as big as the Great Lakes comes crashing ashore. Enjoy this new family holiday tale crafted from the legends, love and true events surrounding the famous Christmas Tree Ship. Venture back into 1911 Chicago, Illinois. The city, now rebuilt years after the great fine, is busy readying itself for the Christmas holidays. Experience larger than life characters including Great Lakes pirates, Dan Seavey, blustery soul-saver Captain Bundy and his Gospel Ship, and studious Captain Schuenemann skipper of the vessel that each Christmas season hauled thousands of holiday trees to Chicago from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Witness a tender love affair between two star-cross lovers whose fates intertwine forever. Smell the evergreen boughs, hear the enduring tale of a families struggle to keep its seasonal business afloat. See how this endeavor would become a holiday tradition for countless numbers of Chicago area residences. Be there to re-live these historic times when electric lights and wireless communications were something new, the Titanic had yet to sail and automobiles were something to marvel at. Behold the holiday miracle of the Christmas ship.

360 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2005

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

From this book I better understand that time in the 1910's when the shipping industry flourished, the Model-T was new (and people wondered if it would some day replace the horse and carriage), 'pirates' existed but were much more troublesome than glorified. I also better understand why ships would risk everything to deliver their cargo... it was a livelihood, and it was always risky, so captains didn't often make the call that it's just too risky, so don't go (and thus go into debt a huge amount of money). The characters reflected the time period. Very cool book.

[Alice Harbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read; perhaps written for young adults or travelers, wanting something light. I have never heard this history before and I found it to be entertaining, since I know and have lived in some of these places.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Living near Lake Michigan most of my life, it was fun reading about something to close. Sad ending, but I knew that was coming. I also liked seeing pictures from back in the day.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree. It seems to have been written for an older child audience. Some passages seemed to be written on an elementary level, which I found tiresome.

The pictures were great, but the book could have been much shorter.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A legend in Great Lakes folklore. ... making the true history of these legends more relevant...
Chicago 1911 - story starts
The Rouse Simmons = The Christmas Tree Ship
Captain Schuenamann - Captain & part owner of the ship
Nov. 23, 1912 - Ship goes down during a bad storm in November
Captain Schuenemann’s wife and children continued the family business of supplying Christmas trees to Chicago for another 21 years.