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 | Schooner | Wm. Finch | 1893-07-20 | 3 | Has taken on a cargo of shingles for Zastrow and Sanderman for Racine. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Wm. Finch | 1893-11-23 | 3 | Captain Michael Wenniger owner and master, has been laid up for the winter in this harbor. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Wm. Finch | 1894-04-19 | 3 | Arrived with a part cargo of coal. The Finch loaded with shingles for Racine. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Wm. Finch | 1894-05-31 | 3 | The schooner Wm. Finch cleared for Racine Tuesday afternoon, with a cargo of shingles for Paul Gablowsky & Co. and S. L. Hall. | |
| Door County Advocate | Schooner | Wm. Finch | 1896-04-11 | 5 | Being fitted out | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Scow | Wm. Finch | 1888-07-05 | 3 | Scow Wm. Finch arrived from Milwaukee light, on Monday, and has been fitted out with a new foremast and bow-sprit. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Scow | Wm. Finch | 1888-05-17 | 3 | The scow Wm. Finch, arrived from Milwaukee, light, on Monday. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Scow | Wm. Finch | 1888-08-23 | 3 | The scows Wm. Finch and Dreadnaught load with wood for Milw., the former on owners account and latter for Samuel Perry. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Scow | Wm. Finch | 1888-11-01 | 3 | Scow Dreadnaught, in tow of the tug Edith, loaded with cordwood at Fellow's pier. The scow Wm. Finch will load at the Clay Banks pier. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Scow | Wm. Finch | 1889-03-14 | 3 | The steam barge Mary Mills, the schooners Industry and Clara, and the scow Wm. Finch are undergoing repairs. |
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.