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
Manitowoc Pilot Scow Whiskey Pete 1878-11-07 3 In distress near Two Rivers, life guards pulled scow ashore
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Scow Whiskey Pete 1880-07-01 3 The scows Little Johnny, Lady Mac, Whiskey Pete, and the sloop Willie are in port where the crews will spend the fourth.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Scow Whiskey Pete 1876-05-11 8 Capt. Jac. MCDonald will go into the stone trade this summer, carrying from the Door to the eastern shore with his two scows.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Scow Whiskey Pete 1875-10-21 8 In with a cargo of hay. Chartered by Fax Bros.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Whiskey Pete 1875-11-04 8 Capt. M. McDonald, of the Whiskey Pete, arrived here on Saturday with a full load of wheat from the stranded schooner Sea Bird.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Stone scow Whiskey Pete 1923-05-04 4 One of many vessels in one armed Captain John McDonald's life.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Scow Whiskey Pete 1877-11-08 8 Scow has been hauled out and laid up for the winter.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Scow Whiskey Pete 1874-08-13 8 Sailed for the Portage to engage in the stone trade at that place.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Whiskey Pete 1876-08-31 8 Capts. J. Scott and Alex Doak have chartered the vessel of Captain McDonald, and are running her in the iron and rag trade around the islands.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Whiskey Pete 1875-12-02 8 Capt. John McDonald, is laid up for the winter at this port.

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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.

© 2025 - Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Historical Society