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 tug William Engel 1921-07-22 6 In port after a cargo of cherries
Door County Advocate Tug William Engel 1901-07-20 1 New - info given
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer William F. Stifel 3 Into floating dock for extensive repairs.
Manitowoc Pilot Schooner William Finch 1895-04-25 2 Brought a cargo of 8000 cheese boxes from Ahnapee.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner William Finch 1894-06-07 3 Arrived here from the south. The Finch will probably be loaded with bark by Henry Gericke, of Milwaukee.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner William Finch 1894-07-12 3 Cleared for the south with a cargo of shingles a couple of weeks ago. Thought she got caught up in the strikes.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner William Finch 1894-08-30 3 The schooner William Finch lies in this harbor awaiting a cargo She will probably take shingles to Racine.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner William Finch 1894-04-26 3 Is taking on a cargo of shingles for Racine.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner William Finch 1893-08-24 3 The schooner William Finch arrived here Tuesday and is taking on a cargo of shingles for S. L. Hall and Zastrow & Sanderman, for Racine.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record William Finch 1893-02-23 3 Capt. Michael Wenninger is overhauling and partially rebuilding his vessel.

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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