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Back in the late 1800s, Chicago really loved Christmas trees, but not everyone could afford one. Every December, people along Lake Michigan would watch for a familiar sight: a beat-up old schooner rolling into the harbor, stacked way too high with evergreen trees.

That ship belonged to Captain Herman Schuenemann.

Schuenemann was a sailor and tree seller, but mostly he was just a decent guy. He’d cut fir trees up in Michigan and Wisconsin, load them onto his ship, and sail them down to Chicago to sell. But here’s the thing—he didn’t just sell them. He gave a lot of them away. If you were poor, widowed, or had kids who’d never had a tree before, chances are Captain Santa (yep, that’s what people called him) made sure you got one.

In 1912, he headed out on one last trip on his ship, the Rouse Simmons. The weather was already getting ugly, and people warned him not to go. Lake Michigan in late fall is no joke. But Schuenemann didn’t want to miss Christmas—people were counting on those trees.

A big storm hit. The ship went down.

When news finally reached Chicago, people were heartbroken. Weeks later, when Schuenemann’s body was found, he was still wearing his heavy coat, and there were pine needles in his pockets. Even then, he was literally carrying Christmas.

Chicago never forgot him. His story stuck, and eventually it turned into a tradition. Every year now, a ship sails into Chicago with Christmas trees from northern Michigan, and those trees are given to families who need them—just like Captain Schuenemann used to do.

It’s one of those stories that sticks with you because it’s not flashy. It’s just about a guy who kept showing up, year after year, doing something kind—and doing it even when it was hard.

Every year I try to pick a word or a phrase.  For 2025, it was “intention.”  For 2026, I think I’ll take a up a bit of Captain Santa’s philosophy, “Do something kind.”

What are your words for 2026?

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rouse_Simmons

Helpful Links
Events: https://www.californiaancestors.org/events-and-education/
Special Interest Groups: https://www.californiaancestors.org/special-interest-groups-for-members/
Calendar view: https://www.californiaancestors.org/cgs_calendar/
Tips & Talk: Oakland FamilySearch Center Family History Classes: https://www.familysearch.org/en/centers/oakland_california/classes

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At this time of year, I’m always shopping calendars.  Do I get a pug calendar to commemorate my two besties?  Do I get a western calendar in anticipation of my dude ranch vacation?  Last year was a squirrel calendar from Sweden.  One year, 2000, I made a calendar at home with just my computer, printer, and a cheap binding machine.  Since I was at it, I also made one for each of my cousins on my paternal side.

Using my genealogy software (Family Tree Maker), I found dates of all our common ancestors’ birthdays, anniversaries, and deaths.  I plotted these in the calendar pages that I created in Word.  “5th Great Grampa John Doe would be 342 today!”  That sort of thing.  Each month featured a picture I had that maybe they didn’t.  I plotted all OUR birthdays and all those still with us, as well.  I printed it and bound with a spiral plastic binding and there you go!  Beautiful gifts for my beautiful family.

What’s on your calendar for 2026?  I still haven’t decided, but I’m leaning towards cowboys… 

Helpful Links
Events: https://www.californiaancestors.org/events-and-education/
Special Interest Groups: https://www.californiaancestors.org/special-interest-groups-for-members/
Calendar view: https://www.californiaancestors.org/cgs_calendar/
Tips & Talk: Oakland FamilySearch Center Family History Classes: https://www.familysearch.org/en/centers/oakland_california/classes

To register for an event or for more information, click the link for any event. All times are Pacific Time.
Questions? Email [email protected]

With the holidays upon us, we try to find more ways to engage with our families and connect them to our ancestors (without that glossy-eyed gaze staring back at us).  One way I like to do this is with maps. Your genealogy software may have maps and be able to create an atlas, our you may be like me and just link to wing it in Google Maps (or Google Earth, if you are so inclined).  I will bring my computer and just kind of walk the paths and talk about it.

You can print out maps that show this, or even video, but sometimes the children really like to move the mouse and get into it.

Here is a map from Ancestry.com that shows all the places my great grandfather lived (that I know about!).

Helpful Links
Events: https://www.californiaancestors.org/events-and-education/
Special Interest Groups: https://www.californiaancestors.org/special-interest-groups-for-members/
Calendar view: https://www.californiaancestors.org/cgs_calendar/
Tips & Talk: Oakland FamilySearch Center Family History Classes: https://www.familysearch.org/en/centers/oakland_california/classes