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 Steam barge Mary Mills 1891-11-12 3 The steam barge has been released from the rocks on Green Island reef. She is owned by Capt. Jas. Tuffts.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Barge Mary Mills 1890-05-01 3 Called at this port for a short time on Tuesday morning, while on her way to Sturgeon Bay, with freight for parties in that city.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Barge Mary Mills 1890-04-10 3 Schooner J. W. Wright was the first arrival of the season. Barge Mary Mills was the first to clear and will take in tow the schooner Clara.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Barge Mary Mills 1890-03-27 3 With favorable weather, the barge will be ready for sea by Sunday and will take her first cargo of ties for Sam'l Perry, to Chicago.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steambarge Mary Mills 1893-09-21 3 Her deck load of shingles was piled 14 courses high above the rail. The smoke stack was but a foot above the load.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steambarge Mary Mills 1893-09-07 3 Information on her braking her shaft. She was placed in drydock at Manitowoc.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steambarge Mary Mills 1893-09-07 3 Into this harbor last week disabled with a broken shaft. The cargo of merchandise was transferred to the schooner Lady Ellen.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steambarge Mary Mills 1893-06-29 3 In port briefly. She was bound for Menominee after a cargo of lumber. She carries about 20,000 feet more of green lumber than before.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steambarge Mary Mills 1893-05-25 3 Capt. Jas. Tufts was working on his vessel when a staging gave way, precipitating him into the water. A witness helped him to shore.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steambarge Mary Mills 1894-03-15 3 Thomas Swaty, who was one of the engineers on the barge last year, will not go on that steamer this season.

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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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