Newspaper Search

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
Door County Advocate Fish boat Reliance 1919-11-07 12 To Oconto to fish
Door County Advocate Tug Reliance 1922-12-22 8 Grounded
Door County Advocate Hooker Reliance 1913-09-04 1 Lumber for Washburn yard
Door County Advocate Reliance 1924-07-04 6 Became disabled in high winds
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steamer Reliance 1914-11-06 2 Recorded at the Kewaunee Custom House: Ferdinand Fax of Algoma sold the gasoline steamer Reliance to William Adamson.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Reliance 1916-06-09 1 The Reliance won a race with the Rosemary. Each was equipped with a 20 horse Straubel engine.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Gasoline boat Reliance 1916-05-26 5 Returned from Green Bay with new more powerful engine. This gives Billy the fastest boat in the river.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner Reliance 1916-08-04 1 The little schooner Reliance of Egg Harbor was in port last week, laden with wood for a local fuel company.
Door County Advocate Schooner Reliance 1917-10-25 1 Recently overhauled
Door County Advocate Lighter Reliance 1921-12-16 7 Engaged in releasing steamer Hydrus

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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.

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