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 Ed. Gillen 1893-12-30 5 Laid up at Racine
Door County Advocate Tug Ed. Gillen 1915-04-22 1 Being fitted out - formerly the J. J. Hagermann
Manitowoc Pilot Tug Ed. Gillen 1895-09-26 3 The Manitowoc Boiler Works is making extensive repairs on the boiler of tug.
Door County Advocate Barge Ed. Kelley 1898-09-17 1 Released from Eleven-foot shoal
Door County Advocate Barge Ed. Kelly 1898-12-31 1 Stranded on Eleven-foot shoal Sept. 11
Door County Advocate Steamer Ed. L. Hines 1912-06-20 1 Capt. given - Hines Lumber Co. fleet
Door County Advocate Steambarge Ed. S. Tice 1894-05-26 5 Remained fast in channel
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Tug Ed. Watkins 1906-04-20 1 Tug Ed. Watkins towed the barge Mary E. Packard here from north.
Door County Advocate Tug Ed. Watkins 1902-10-04 1 Docked to stop leaks
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Tug Ed. Watkins 1912-04-12 3 David Van Dresse has purchased the tug Ed. Watkins from Capt. David Ramage and will use her in towing and fishing at Sturgeon Bay.

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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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