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 | Barge | Johnson | 1895-05-09 | 2 | Went on a reef near Sister Bay. Taken off but considered a total loss. | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Tug | Johnson | 1898-12-08 | 4 | Had a hard trip of it to Chicago. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Barge | Johnson | 1895-05-23 | 3 | Steamer Imperial was recently purchased by Geo. Seyks of Manitowoc. Mr. Seyks lost the barge Johnson recently on a reef in Green Bay. | |
| Door County Advocate | Tug | Johnson | 1899-06-10 | 1 | Engine gave out | |
| Door County Advocate | Johnson | 1887-04-30 | 2 | Loading for LeMere at Jacksonport | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Johnson | 1881-11-03 | 3 | Collided with some unknown schooner, off Two Rivers. The tug Cyclone was telegraphed to go to its assistance. | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Schooner | Johnson | 1893-11-30 | 3 | Sought shelter here. | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Tug | Johnson | 1898-10-20 | 4 | Had a fearful time in getting the crew of the life boat into Two Rivers. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Johnson | 1894-11-01 | 3 | In port with a cargo of salt for Martin Bretle and others. She went to Menominee from here, after a cargo of lumber for Paul Gablowsky & Co. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Tug | Johnson | 1899-06-02 | 3 | Loaded post for Milwaukee. Had been waiting for favorable weather. Finally got it but the wind died when it got out into the lake. The tug Johnson went out and brought it in. |
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.