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
Door County Advocate Quarry Thos. H. Smith 1903-08-22 8 Work on new quarry going on merrily
Door County Advocate Dock Thos. H. Smith 1905-06-24 1 Being built at foot of Liberty street
Door County Advocate Quarry Thos. H. Smith 1905-07-15 1 Scow Port a Lap a Dum dumped rubble stone into new new dock
Door County Advocate Steambarge Thos. H. Smith 1882-03-23 3 In Milwaukee - parted lines at dock +damaged
Door County Advocate Steambarge Thos. H. Smith 1882-02-02 3 281.11 ton - built at Manitowoc in 1881
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steambarge Thos. H. Smith 1882-05-18 3 From Little Sturgeon. Steambarge Thos. H. Smith was here to get the Leclue and brought the scow Major Bershaw to be loaded with ties.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steambarge Thos. H. Smith 1882-05-04 3 Steambarge Thos. H. Smith, of Sturgeon Bay, passed this port with her tow Sunday morning going South.
Door County Advocate Steambarge Thos. H. Smith 1888-01-07 3 Negotiating for purchase
Door County Advocate Thos. H. Smith 1884-06-05 3 Transporting shingles from Leathem & Smith saw mill
Door County Advocate Thos. H. Smith 1884-05-15 3 New Sheriff wheel cost $225

Page 5684 of 6219

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.

© 2025 - Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Historical Society