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 | Tug | J. N. Brooks | 1902-07-11 | 1 | The tug J. N. Brooks left here for Washington Island to tow the schooner Leo to Sturgeon Bay for repairs. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Tug | J. N. Brooks | 1903-10-30 | 1 | Thos. Swaty left Monday for Eagle Island to resume his position as engineer on the fishing tug J. N. Brooks, now engaged in fishing in Green Bay waters. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Tug | J. N. Brooks | 1902-12-19 | 1 | Information on the J. N. Brooks' fishing business and fishing Industry in general. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Tug | J. N. Brooks | 1900-05-04 | 1 | Made her last lift, getting only 400 lbs of fish. Owners decided to lay her up for a time. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Tug | J. N. Brooks | 1901-06-14 | 1 | Has been fishing out of Washington Harbor. Ran in to have some repairs made to her machinery. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Tug | J. N. Brooks | 1884-03-27 | 3 | Discharged merchandise for merchants here and vicinity. She also discharged freight at Kewaunee. | |
| Door County Advocate | Tug | J. N. Brooks | 1896-02-15 | 5 | In winter moorings at Manitowoc | |
| Door County Advocate | Tug | J. N. Brooks | 1879-05-22 | 3 | Engaged in fishing business | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Tug | J. N. Brooks | 1902-07-18 | 1 | The tug J. N. Brooks went to Sturgeon Bay Sunday to tow the schooner Leo to this port where she will be laid up for the time being. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Tug | J. N. Brooks | 1903-09-04 | 1 | Arrived in port with a cargo of peaches, plums and pears, having secured the fruit across the lake at Pentwater. |
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.