Working with community partners, the United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Mackinaw supports a Chicago tradition by serving as the Christmas Tree Ship. The predecessor Mackinaw (WAGB-83) that was retired in 2006 resurrected the long honored tradition in 2000. Cutter crewmembers gather trees from the forests of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin to be share with deserving families in Chicago.
There is much excitement surrounding the Christmas Tree Ship's arrival at the Chicago dock. The Cutter brings a thousand trees with its delivery. A welcoming ceremony is held were school children are given a chance to tour the Coast Guard Cutter and learn about maritime history. Community volunteers assist with off loading the important cargo and distribute the trees to area homes.
The Chicago Christmas Tree Committee
Many groups come together under the umbrella of the Chicago Christmas Tree Committee that actually purchases the trees from northern growers. Working with Ada S. McKinley Community Services, members of the Young Marines, Sea Cadets, and Sea Explorer Scouts help with the off loading effort.
The Committee consists of 50 Chicago area organizations that include boating community members interested in making these trees available to families. Among these are the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Chicago Yachting Association, and International Shipmasters' Association.
United States Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB-30)
The newest Cutter to bear the name Mackinaw is known by the Coast Guard designator WLBB-30. Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB-30) was commissioned in June of 2006. It is the only heavy-duty ice breaking cutter dedicated the Great Lakes region. Mackinaw is a multi-mission vessel with responsibilities for homeland security, environmental protection, search and rescue, maintenance of aids to navigation, and icebreaking.
One of the Mackinaw's duties involves removal of seasonally installed aid to navigation buoys found in Lake Michigan. This effort is known as Operation Fall Retrieve and represents the largest recovery undertaking of its type in the United States.
The Original Christmas Tree Ship
A number of vessels have served as the Christmas Tree Ship. The initial ship was the Rouse Simmons that started delivering trees to Chicago in 1896. Captain Herman Schenemann of the Rouse Simmons became known to the Chicago community as Captain Santa.
Tragically the Rouse Simmons was lost off the coast of Two Rivers in Manitowoc County during the Christmas tree delivery of 1912 with 10,000 trees onboard. Fourteen crewmembers perished in the accident. Divers discovered the shipwreck under 165 feet of water in 1971. Remains of the spruce trees could still be seen in the ship's holds. A memorial service is held in honor of the Rouse Simmons' crew as part of the Christmas tree delivery events.
Rochelle M. Pennington has written a book titled The Christmas Tree Ship: The Story of Captain Santa (ISBN 1930596197) published by Guest Cottage that is available from major book retailers. Pennington ties together the story of Captain Schuenemann's voyages between the tree growers in Manistique, Michigan and Chicago.
The Christmas Tree Ship is a wonderful Chicago tradition that honors the memory of Captain Santa and reminds us of the value that volunteerism brings into a community.
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