Podcast Summary: "Short Stuff: Captain Santa"

Podcast Information

• Title: Stuff You Should Know
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
• Description: If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Niño, true crime, and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
• Episode: Short Stuff: Captain Santa
• Release Date: December 25, 2024

Introduction

In the holiday-themed episode titled "Captain Santa," hosts Josh (A) and Chuck (B) delve into a poignant maritime disaster intertwined with Christmas traditions. Released on Christmas Day, the episode promises a blend of festive spirit and somber reflection.

Notable Quote:

• Chuck (B) at [00:27]: “Hi, and welcome to the Short Stuff. I should say Merry Christmas and welcome to the Short Stuff, everybody.”

Setting the Scene: Chicago’s Christmas Tree Tradition

Josh and Chuck introduce listeners to a unique Christmas tradition from early 20th-century Chicago. During this time, schooners laden with Christmas trees and adorned with lights would sail up the Chicago River, transforming into floating Christmas tree lots. These schooners, voyaging from northern Michigan and Wisconsin, provided an essential service in a city where Christmas trees were scarce due to limited local forestry.

Notable Quotes:

• Josh (A) at [02:05]: “In Chicago around the turn of the last century, they did a very cool thing wherein if you needed a Christmas tree, you could head down to the Chicago River and go aboard a real sailing ship loaded with Christmas lights and Christmas trees.”
• Chuck (B) at [02:25]: “If you were down on your luck at the time and you went to a particular schooner, the Rouse Simmons, you would probably meet the captain. He was nicknamed Captain Santa. And if he found out that you were down on your luck, he would probably give you one of the Christmas trees free of charge.”

Meet Captain Santa: Hermann Schonemann

The heart of the story centers on Hermann “Captain Santa” Schonemann, a German immigrant born around 1865. Despite financial struggles, including significant debt from owning a saloon, Hermann maintained his generous spirit. He owned an eighth share of the schooner Rouse Simmons, which he used to deliver Christmas trees.

Notable Quotes:

• Josh (A) at [03:16]: “Captain Santa was born Hermann Schonemann, obviously German somewhere probably around 1865.”
• Chuck (B) at [04:08]: “He was not a rich man, which made the fact that he had some financial hardships even more heartwarming.”

The Final Voyage: November 22, 1912

As winter approached, Captain Santa embarked on his last journey aboard the Rouse Simmons, heavily loaded with three to five thousand Christmas trees—a "floating forest." Tragically, the schooner disappeared on Lake Michigan during a fierce November storm. The family, including Hermann’s wife Barbara and their three daughters, anxiously awaited the ship’s return, only to learn weeks later of its loss and the 23 lives that perished, including Captain Santa.

Notable Quotes:

• Josh (A) at [04:26]: “This was the last trip that both Captain Santa and the Rouse Simmons would ever make.”
• Chuck (B) at [07:53]: “They knew things could go bad because August, that older brother… had already died in a ship loaded with Christmas trees… November 1898 devastated the family.”

Discovery and Aftermath

For decades, the fate of the Rouse Simmons remained a mystery. In 1924, Captain Santa’s wallet was found wrapped in waterproof oilskin, confirming the ship’s demise. The wreck was eventually located in 1971, lying upright at the bottom of Lake Michigan with Christmas trees still partially intact, a haunting reminder of that fateful voyage.

Notable Quotes:

• Josh (A) at [09:54]: “But the loss of the Rouse Simmons was basically the signal. The age of schooners sailing across the Great Lakes… is probably over.”
• Chuck (B) at [11:15]: “Some of them are so well preserved in the silt that some of them still have their needles attached.”

Legacy and Remembrance

Despite the tragedy, Captain Santa's legacy endured. Barbara continued the family tradition of delivering Christmas trees, eventually transitioning from schooners to trains for practicality. The story of the Rouse Simmons remains a beloved local legend, with annual commemorations by the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinac, which replicates the Christmas tree deliveries to Chicago’s disadvantaged children.

Moreover, ghost stories and local lore suggest that the scent of evergreens still lingers near Barbara’s grave at Acacia Park Cemetery in Chicago, and some believe the Christmas trees in the wreck remain magically preserved under the lake’s depths.

Notable Quotes:

• Chuck (B) at [12:30]: “It might not be a scary ghost story, but it is a tale of the glory of Christmases long, long ago, if you ask me.”
• Josh (A) at [12:08]: “I believe where the evergreen scent is present is near Barbara's grave site at Acacia Park Cemetery in Chicago.”

Conclusion: A Mixed Legacy

The episode wraps up by reflecting on the dual legacy of Captain Santa’s story—mourning the loss of lives and thousands of Christmas trees while celebrating the enduring spirit of generosity and community. This blend of tragedy and hope embodies what Josh humorously refers to as a "happy Christmas sandwich," encapsulating both sorrow and joy.

Notable Quotes:

• Chuck (B) at [13:24]: “To kind of tie the whole thing up in a nice Christmas bow… It is a happy ending.”
• Josh (A) at [13:35]: “Yeah. It has a dark center. It's called a happy Christmas sandwich.”

Final Thoughts

"Short Stuff: Captain Santa" offers a rich narrative that intertwines historical facts with heartfelt storytelling. Through detailed discussion and evocative quotes, Josh and Chuck provide listeners with an engaging account of a bygone Christmas tradition, the tragedy that struck it, and its lasting impact on Chicago’s cultural tapestry.

Notable Quote:

• Chuck (B) at [13:49]: “I want to give a big shout out and thanks to Glenn V. Longacre, who wrote a great 2006 article in the National Archives… too.”

Additional Information

For those interested in exploring more about this story, references include a 2006 article by Glenn V. Longacre in Prologue magazine and features on Atlas Obscura, which provides detailed insights and photographs of the Rouse Simmons wreck site.

Closing Remarks

Josh and Chuck conclude the episode with warm holiday wishes, emphasizing the blend of historical intrigue and seasonal sentiment that defines "Short Stuff: Captain Santa."

Notable Quote:

• Chuck (B) at [14:00]: “Merry Christmas to everybody who's listening, and happy holidays.”

Produced By: iHeartRadio
Availability: Accessible via the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or any platform where you listen to your favorite shows.