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 Brooks 1898-09-30 3 Fishermen complain of poor fishing at present, but expect it to be better later in the fall. The Brooks average 800 to 1000 pounds per lift.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Tug Brooks 1901-05-24 1 Has been fishing out of Washington Harbor during the past two weeks and reports some good hauls.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Tug Brooks 1901-03-22 1 The tug succeeded in getting to her nets early Sunday morning, forcing her way through the ice field.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Tug Brooks 1901-04-05 1 The fishing tug Brooks had considerable ice to battle with this week. Capt. Chapek and his crew commenced fishing with set hooks this week.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Tug Brooks 1901-12-13 1 Fishing commences next Sumday, Dec. 15. Capt. Frank Chapek and his brother Wenzel will be the only parties fishing out of here this fall.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Tug Brooks 1901-11-29 1 The tug Brooks towed the Butcher Boy out into the lake Saturday morning. The Butcher Boy was in port for shelter.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Tug Brooks 1901-12-27 1 The tug Brooks experienced considerable difficulty in getting out of the harbor Monday morning. Ice to a depth of several feet was packed in between the harbor piers.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Tug Brooks 1901-08-30 1 Has been fitted out and will next week commence fishing from this port.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Tug Brooks 1902-07-18 1 Capt. Frank Chapek gave the tug Brooks a coat of paint while laying in port this week.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Fishing tug Brooks 1903-03-13 1 The fishing tug Brooks was taken to Kewaunee Sunday to have her boiler cleared. The boiler on the tug Herman was also cleared on the same day.

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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.

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