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 | Milwaukee Belle | 1869-10-21 | 1 | Towed in by tug Kitty Smoke - mainsail and foresail torn to ribbons | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Schooner | Milwaukee Belle | 1887-08-18 | 3 | Leatham & Smith working to release schooner, ashore at Beaver Island | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Milwaukee Belle | 1887-08-25 | 3 | John Leathem to use either tug Nelson or Leathem to attempt to release the schooner Milwaukee ashore on Beaver Is. Near Lt. house | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Milwaukee Belle | 1887-09-15 | 3 | Jack-screws have been placed under her since two tugs and a barge were unable to release her. | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Milwaukee Belle | 1882-03-30 | 3 | Schooner Milwaukee Belle drifted into the pier at Whitefish Bay. The tug Ben Drake went to pick up the vessel's anchor. | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Milwaukee Belle | 1877-09-13 | 3 | Ran into the Fleetwing | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Schooner | Milwaukee Belle | 1873-08-28 | 4 | Tug Kitty Smoke got her off southeast reef of Chambers Island | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Milwaukee Belle | 1887-09-29 | 3 | Wrecking expedition has decided to abandon operations for this season. | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Milwaukee Belle | 1887-08-18 | 3 | Leathem & Smith will attempt to release the Milwaukee Belle, recently purchased and ashore at Spider Island. | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Milwaukee Belle | 1887-07-21 | 3 | Leathem & Smith last week purchased of Chicago parties the sch. Milwaukee Belle which went ashore at Beaver Island last fall. |
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.