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 Steamer Fontana 1928-10-19 1 On rocks on Pilot Is. and released
Door County Advocate Stone carrier Fontana 1925-09-18 1 Clifford Laurie falls off boat in Lake Huron
Door County Advocate Fontana 1924-06-20 6 In commission - has improved self unloader
Door County Advocate Steamer Fontana 1924-08-01 6 In with 1,500 tons of coal
Door County Advocate Steamer Fontana 1925-10-30 1 Clifford Laurie body found
Door County Advocate Steamer Fontana 1927-06-17 1 For stone
Door County Advocate Schooner Fontana 1900-08-11 1 Sunk in channel between Lakes Huron + Erie
Door County Advocate Fontana 1900-09-29 1 Wreck must be broken up so vessels may use channel
Door County Advocate Fontana 1928-12-28 12 Picture
Door County Advocate Steamer Fontana 1925-04-24 11 Loaded stone at Smith quarry

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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.

© 2025 - Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Historical Society