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 | Barge | Plymouth | 1916-01-21 | 5 | Reminiscing the 60 year history of the Schooner William A. Aldrich. It is now taking the place of the barge Plymouth, lost in 1913 while in tow of the tug James Martin. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Tow barge | Plymouth | 1913-11-14 | 1 | The tow barge Plymouth, in tow of the tug Martin, was cut loose and went down off St Martin's Island. The tug reached port in a sinking condition. | |
| Door County Advocate | Tug | Plymouth Martin | 1913-12-04 | 1 | Investigation on loss | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Plymouth Rock | 1868-12-31 | 4 | Marine disasters 1868 - damaged by dropping upon her center-board; $4,000 | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Pier | Podunk | 1880-06-17 | 3 | The schooners I. M. Forest and E. R. Blake were lying at Podunk, about six miles from the mouth of Sturgeon Bay, during the gale. | |
| Door County Advocate | Steam Scow | Podunk | 1870-11-03 | 3 | Went ashore @ Podunk | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Pier | Podunk | 1880-06-17 | 3 | The schooners I. M. Forest and E. R. Blake were lying at Podunk, about six miles from the mouth of Sturgeon Bay, during the gale. | |
| Door County Advocate | Freighter | Poinsett | 1944-05-26 | 1 | Picture of launching | |
| Door County Advocate | Freighter | Poinsett | 1944-05-19 | 1 | Launched at Smith yard | |
| Door County Advocate | Cargo ship | Poinsett | 1944-10-13 | 1 | Picture - left last week |
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.