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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Belle | 1891-08-01 | 5 | Loading lumber at Whitefish Bay | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Belle | 1892-02-13 | 5 | Repairs mentioned | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Hooker | Belle | 1908-09-04 | 1 | The little hooker Bell owned by Chris Braunsdorf of Clay Banks was in port several days this week. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Belle | 1900-07-13 | 1 | The schooner Pearl, Elva, Brown and Belle of Sturgeon Bay arrived with lumber cargoes for local dealers. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Belle | 1900-09-14 | 1 | The schooner Belle that was hauled out on the north side of the river last week, has been recalked and garbed in a new coat of paint, which makes her look quite trim. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Belle | 1900-10-19 | 1 | The little schooner Belle arrived in port Tuesday afternoon with a cargo of lumber for local dealers. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Belle | 1905-10-13 | 1 | The schooner Belle of Epoufette was in port the first of the week with a cargo of fruit. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Belle | 1900-05-18 | 1 | The schooner Belle of Sturgeon Bay was fitted out last week and was brought down the river and went into commission Saturday. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Belle | 1887-04-07 | 3 | The schooner Belle, of Racine, bound for Foscoro to load with wood for C. L. Fellows, was in port Wednesday. | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Belle | 1897-05-08 | 1 | Showed up safe |
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.