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 | Steam barge | Mary Mills | 1891-10-22 | 3 | Some uneasiness felt for its safety. Information received that it had run into Milwaukee harbor and left all right. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Mary Mills | 1892-03-31 | 3 | Capt. Frank Tuft with engineer Jas. Oakley went to Manitowoc last week to fit out the steambarge which wintered at that port. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Mary Mills | 1891-11-12 | 3 | Passed this port. It appears that she cannot be much the worse for her contact with the rocks on Green Island reef. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Mary Mills | 1892-03-10 | 3 | Waukegan Lumber Co. purchased 1/2 interest in the steambarge from Capt. James Tufts for $2,000. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Mary Mills | 1892-01-07 | 3 | Owned by Capt. Jas. Tufts, of Clay Banks, has placed the Mary Mills in winter quarters at Manitowoc. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Barge | Mary Mills | 1893-03-30 | 3 | Tom Swaty engaged as one of the engineers on the barge. James Oakley is also an engineer. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Barge | Mary Mills | 1893-04-20 | 3 | The rail and upper works yet remain to be put on. Her model having been considerably changed in rebuilding. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Mary Mills | 1893-07-13 | 3 | Thomas Swaty, engineer on the Mary Mills, has found it necessary to lay off awhile due to a severe attack of rheumatism. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Mary Mills | 1893-06-08 | 3 | Information on her. She is fitted out and is practically ready for business. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Mary Mills | 1893-06-01 | 3 | Will be ready to sail within a few days. Her boiler and machinery in shape and painting on her upper works are nearing completion. |
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.