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 | 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 | ||
| Door County Advocate | Steambarge | Thos. H. Smith | 1883-07-19 | 3 | Had valuable cargo | |
| Manitowoc Pilot | Steambarge | Thos. H. Smith | 1882-01-26 | 3 | Built in Manitowoc in 1881 by Rand & Burger, burthen 281.11 | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Barge | Thos. H. Smith | 1887-07-14 | 3 | Instead of Bob Anderson taking the place of the James Reid, it will be the barge Thos. H. Smith and the tug Geo. Nelson. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Thos. H. Smith | 1883-06-07 | 3 | The Thos. H. Smith, arrived in Milwaukee, last Monday, having in tow a waterlogged scow, lumber laden, minus part of deck load. | |
| Door County Advocate | Steambarge | Thos. H. Smith | 1881-12-08 | 3 | Christened - dimensions given |
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.