Newspaper Search

Search below for stories about ships, lighthouses, sailors and anything else about life on Lake Michigan. The database contains references to articles from the Ahnapee (Algoma) Record (June 12, 1873 to Jan. 7, 1927), the Door County Advocate (Nov. 8, 1861 to Dec. 22, 1949), and the Manitowoc Pilot (June 14, 1859 to Dec. 28, 1899). The results will direct you to the date and page in these newspapers where the article can be found.

Microfilm copies of the Ahnapee (Algoma) Record are available at the Wisconsin Historical Society Library in Madison, Algoma Public Library in Algoma. Microfilm copies of the Door County Advocate are available at the Wisconsin Historical Society Library in Madison, the Door County Public Library in Sturgeon Bay, and the Brown County Library in Green Bay. Microfilm of the Manitowoc Pilot are available at the Manitowoc County Historical Society, the Manitowoc Public Library, and the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison.

Check with your local library about obtaining the microfilm via interlibrary loan.






Newspaper Object Name Date Page Notes
Door County Advocate Tug Dragon 1910-05-05 1 Sold at public auction for $525
Door County Advocate Tug Drake 1882-05-04 3 Towing logs
Door County Advocate Steamer Drake 1900-05-12 1 Towing R. Hallaran when it sank
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Tug Drake 1882-04-20 3 The tug Caroline Williams, came to Sturgeon Bay with a scow, struck a reef, but was released by the tug Drake.
Door County Advocate Tug Drake 1880-08-19 3 To tow vessels in and out of canal
Door County Advocate Tug Drake 1882-12-28 3 Machinery moved to Lawrence
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Tug Drake 1879-11-13 4 The steamer Union disabled and taken out of commission. Towed by tug Drake to G. B. Steamer Flora Webster to take her place.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Dreadnaught 1891-05-21 3 The Dreadnaught cleared this morning for Kenosha with posts for Aug. Froemming and shingles for Zastrow & Sandermann.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Scow Dreadnaught 1891-04-30 3 Large amounts of hay purchased by Fellows and will be shipped at Foscoro on the Dreadnaught.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Scow Dreadnaught 1890-05-15 3 Scow Dreadnaught cleared for Waukegan Saturday with shingles.

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This database is a cooperative effort of the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association (WUAA), the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS), and the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. The project is spearheaded by WUAA member Russel Leitz, who helped develop a framework for the database and painstakingly combed through 54 years of the Ahnapee (Algoma) Record, 87 years of the Door County Advocate and 40 years of the Manitowoc Pilot for maritime news. The more than 50,000 references are the fruit of his labor alone.

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