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 Barge Mary Mills 1887-09-22 3 Was in port, but being unable to obtain a cargo of wood, left for Lily Bay, where he loaded at the pier of V. & C. Mashek.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steambarge Mary Mills 1887-08-11 3 The steambarge Mary Mills, which was fitted out with the machinery of the burned barge G. P. Heath, has gone into commission.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steambarge Mary Mills 1900-12-07 1 The steambarge Mary Mills was burned at Sturgeon Bay. She was burned to the waters edge and is a total loss.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Barge Mary Mills 1889-10-31 3 The barges Mary Mills, from the north and John Pauley from the south, sought shelter in the harbor during heavy weather Thurs. and Fri.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Barge Mary Mills 1889-12-05 3 In port, from Chicago to Leathamport, to land one of the crew and to take on wood.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steambarge Mary Mills 1887-07-07 3 The Mary Mills has had a thorough rebuild and will go into commission in about two weeks.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steambarge Mary Mills 1887-06-02 3 The machinery of the barge G. P. Heath has been raised and will be placed in the dismantled hull of the steambarge Mary Mills.
Door County Advocate Steambarge Mary Mills 1898-04-09 1 To Menominee for lumber
Door County Advocate Steamer Mary Mills 1898-09-17 1 Seized by U. S. marshal
Door County Advocate Steamer Mary Mills 1898-11-12 1 Reported lost -bobbed up serenely on Sunday

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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.

© 2026 - Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Historical Society