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 | William Finch | 1896-04-02 | 3 | Capt. M. Wenniger is fitting out his vessel and doing some minor repair work on her. | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | William Finch | 1896-04-23 | 3 | Schooner William Finch and Lady Ellen have been fitted out and made ready for going into commission. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | William Finch | 1896-05-07 | 3 | The William Finch cleared again yesterday for Menominee, after a cargo of lumber for parties here. | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | William Finch | 1893-02-23 | 3 | Capt. Michael Wenninger is overhauling and partially rebuilding his vessel. | ||
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | William Finch | 1887-04-16 | 3 | Run into by scow and sunk | |
| Door County Advocate | William Finch | 1901-01-05 | 1 | Lost during past season | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | William Finch | 1885-09-17 | 3 | The schooner William Finch was in our harbor on Monday. She was bound for Clay Banks to get a load of lumber. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | William Finch | 1886-11-25 | 3 | Reports that the schooner William Finch and barge G. P. Heath both foundered are false. Finch is at Two Rivers and Heath loading here. | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Schooner | William Finch | 1895-04-25 | 2 | Brought a cargo of 8000 cheese boxes from Ahnapee. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Scow | William Finch | 1896-05-28 | 3 | The scow William Finch arrived here Saturday from Manistee. She had on a cargo of salt for merchants here. |
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.