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 | Tug | Oconto | 1892-07-07 | 3 | Old tug has been dismantled and will be allowed to rot. | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Lighthouse | Oconto | 3 | New lighthouse is nearly ready. Is 25+ high and built of steel. | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Propeller | Oconto | 1886-03-25 | 3 | The propeller, which was stranded on Charity Island last fall is to be raised and towed to the dry docks at Bay City. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Propeller | Oconto | 1886-08-05 | 3 | Reported that the Oconto has been purchased by New York parties and will be raised and placed in dry dock for repairs. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Oconto | 1875-05-13 | 8 | Of the Goodrich line, touched at this port enroute from Chicago to Green Bay. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Oconto | 1875-06-10 | 8 | Truesdell of the Goodrich line, has resumed her place on the Green Bay route, and in conjunction with the Oconto is making regular trips. | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Oconto | 1875-05-06 | 8 | Of the Goodrich line, discharged a large cargo of merchandise on Sunday. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steamer | Oconto | 1875-06-24 | 8 | Of the Goodrich Line, have been on time during the week and are full of business. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Oconto | 1875-09-23 | 8 | Passed up about 9 o'clock Sunday morning. | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Propeller | Oconto | 1874-06-11 | 8 | Cleared Ahnapee June 17 for Chicago. |
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.