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
Manitowoc Pilot Schooner J. O. Thayer 1879-06-05 3 Collided with Frank Crawford near Sheboygan. Towed Crawford to Sheboygan
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner J. O. Thayer 1881-12-01 3 The schooner J. O. Thayer, ashore at Sheboygan, has been abandoned.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner J. O. Thayer 1881-08-25 3 The schooner J. O. Thayer ran on the reef at Eagle Harbor, but was shortly released by the Bob Anderson.
Door County Advocate Schooner J. O. Thayer 1883-04-05 3 Name changed to Mike Corry
Door County Advocate Schooner J. O. Thayer 1882-08-03 3 A contract to release it
Manitowoc Pilot Schooner J. O. Thayer 1874-09-10 4 Built by Hanson & Scove - left on maiden trip to Milwaukee
Manitowoc Pilot Schooner J. O. Thayer 1881-12-01 3 Probably a total loss at Sheboygan - info on her
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner J. O. Thayer 1881-11-24 3 The schooners J. O. Thayer and ?Nancy Dell are ashore near Sheboygan.
Door County Advocate Schooner J. O. Thayer 1883-03-22 3 Purchased by Marinette barge Line Co.
Door County Advocate Schooner J. O. Thayer 1881-12-01 3 Ashore at Sheboygan

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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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