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 | Steambarge | Mary Mills | 1891-04-16 | 3 | To Manitowoc to have the decks calked and some other necessary work done, preparatory to going into commission. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Barge | Mary Mills | 1891-04-30 | 3 | The barge Mary Mills was in port yesterday. She cleared light for Clay Banks to take on hay for Menominee. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Mary Mills | 1891-01-01 | 3 | The steambarge Mary Mills has gone into winter quarters in this harbor. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Barge | Mary Mills | 1891-09-03 | 3 | Capt. Jas. Tufts, of Clay Banks, reports his barge to be kept busy with freights so far this season. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Mary Mills | 1891-11-12 | 3 | Passed this port. It appears that she cannot be much the worse for her contact with the rocks on Green Island reef. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steam barge | Mary Mills | 1891-10-22 | 3 | Some uneasiness felt for its safety. Information received that it had run into Milwaukee harbor and left all right. | |
| 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 | 1890-04-17 | 3 | The barge Mary Mills loaded hemlock and cedar ties for Sam'l Perry and left for Chicago on Wednesday morning. | |
| 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. |
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.