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 | Schooner | Bessie Boalt | 1884-09-25 | 3 | Capsized off Two Rivers on Sunday morning. Captain and crew reached the shore safely. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Bessie Boalt | 1882-11-09 | 3 | Capt. John Freer always carries a life preserver, which saved the life of one of his sailors who fell overboard. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Bessie Boalt | 1875-08-19 | 8 | Was built at this port, is a total wreck on the east shore. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Bessie Boalt | 1874-04-09 | 3 | C. G. Boalt has sold the schooner-- a craft of general interest in Ahnapee--to a Chicago party for $9000. | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Bessie Boalt | 1869-07-08 | 4 | Specifics on cargo | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Bessie Boalt | 1882-09-07 | 3 | Engaged in raising engine + boiler of steambarge Granite State | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Bessie Boalt | 1882-09-14 | 3 | Collided with Richard Mott | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Bessie Boalt | 1882-09-28 | 3 | Succeeded in getting engine of Granite State aboard | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Schooner | Bessie Boalt | 1871-11-23 | 3 | Ran into the pier and lost her head gear | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Bessie Boalt | 1907-01-04 | 1 | Was built at Kewaunee. The original model of the old schooner is in the possession of G. W. Wing of Kewaunee. Two models were built. The one used is now in one of the rooms of the Key Lodge, F. & A. M. of Algoma. |
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.