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 | John F. Prince | 1876-11-23 | 8 | Capt. John Doak, was in port this week, and took a cargo of cord wood for Scofield & Co. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Scow | John F. Prince | 1880-05-06 | 3 | While attempting to pass the St. Louis bridge, she was struck by a squall and forced against the arch and completely dismasted. | |
| Door County Advocate | Captain | John Fitzgerald | 1896-08-29 | 5 | Died - vessels commanded given | |
| Door County Advocate | Steamer | John G. McCullough | 1915-07-22 | 1 | 12 of stern cut off to pass through Welland Canal | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Steamer | John Glidden | 5 | Brought a cargo of coal for the Reiss Co. Monday morning. | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Tug | John Gordon | 1886-08-19 | 3 | Was obliged to abandon her three consorts and make this port for coal but had to load wood. | |
| Door County Advocate | Tug | John Gordon | 1884-07-24 | 3 | Race at Chicago with O. B. Green-Gordon won | |
| Door County Advocate | John Graig | 1903-08-01 | 1 | Wrecked on Lake Michigan reef | ||
| Door County Advocate | Tug | John Gregory | 1904-11-19 | 1 | Capsized | |
| Door County Advocate | Tug | John Gregory | 1880-04-01 | 3 | To be stationed at this port |
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.