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
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 1895-09-19 3 Is taking on a cargo of wood and shingles for Racine.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record William Finch 1893-03-09 3 Not much necessary repair work needed on vessel.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner William Finch 1893-08-17 3 Has a cargo of shingles for S. L. Hall and Zastrow & Sanderman for Racine.
Door County Advocate William Finch 1901-01-05 1 Lost during past season
Door County Advocate Schooner William Finch 1887-04-16 3 Run into by scow and sunk
Manitowoc Pilot Scow William Finch 1887-04-14 3 Sunk by a sunken scow at Ahnapee on Monday
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.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Scow William Finch 1896-05-21 3 The scow William Finch cleared for Manistee Friday, with a cargo of hay and oats for W. Seyk & Co.

Page 6082 of 6219

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