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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Duncan City | 1883-05-24 | 3 | Caught at Horn's Pier during the storm. Sent to Sturgeon Bay for a tug to tow her to the canal for shelter. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Tug | Duncan City | 1901-06-28 | 12 | From Sturgeon Bay. Steam yacht Bonita and tug Duncan City occupied the dry dock this week for repairs to stern bearings and schooner York State for caulking below the water line. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Tug | Duncan City | 1902-12-05 | 1 | In port with a large scow with a cargo of lumber and shingles for Henry Grimm. It was shipped by the Pankratz Lumber Company of Sturgeon Bay. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Tug | Duncan City | 1908-11-27 | 1 | The tug Duncan City, with the barge Ida Corning in tow, stranded off Clay Banks, east, during a dense fog. The tug Smith took the lifesaving crew to the stranded boats. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Tug | Duncan City | 1910-04-29 | 1 | Tug Duncan City towing the No. 1 barge of the WI. And Mich. Carferry company left for Cedar River to load tan bark for Milwaukee.. The No. 1 was purchased by Capt. Fred Johnson and Engineer Bert. | |
| Door County Advocate | Tug | Duncan City | 1902-08-23 | 1 | Inconsistent work - crew looking for work elsewhere | |
| Door County Advocate | Tug | Duncan City | 1902-05-10 | 1 | Into commission | |
| Door County Advocate | Tug | Duncan City | 1903-06-13 | 1 | New Captain | |
| Door County Advocate | Tug | Duncan City | 1903-04-04 | 1 | To tow logs | |
| Door County Advocate | Tug | Duncan City | 1903-06-06 | 1 | Capt. Chandler is first pilot |
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.