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 | Mary Mills | 1892-12-15 | 3 | The schooner Wm. Finch was towed to Clay Banks by the steambarge Mary Mills where she loaded slabs fort Capt. Jas. Tufts. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Mary Mills | 1892-12-29 | 3 | The Mills will be raised considerably, and her carrying capacity thereby increased. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Barge | Mary Mills | 1891-09-03 | 3 | Capt. Jas. Tufts, of Clay Banks, reports his barge to be kept busy with freights so far this season. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steam barge | Mary Mills | 1891-04-30 | 3 | Large amounts of hay to be shipped at Clay Banks by Chris. Braunsdorf and Capt. James Tufts on Mary Mills. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Mary Mills | 1891-01-01 | 3 | The steambarge Mary Mills has gone into winter quarters in this harbor. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steambarge | Mary Mills | 1891-04-16 | 3 | To Manitowoc to have the decks calked and some other necessary work done, preparatory to going into commission. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Barge | Mary Mills | 1890-04-17 | 3 | The barge Mary Mills loaded hemlock and cedar ties for Sam'l Perry and left for Chicago on Wednesday morning. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Barge | Mary Mills | 1890-05-22 | 3 | The barge Mary Mills stopped here on Monday evening for a short time while on her way north for a load. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Barge | Mary Mills | 1890-03-27 | 3 | With favorable weather, the barge will be ready for sea by Sunday and will take her first cargo of ties for Sam'l Perry, to Chicago. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Steam barge | Mary Mills | 1891-10-22 | 3 | Some uneasiness felt for its safety. Information received that it had run into Milwaukee harbor and left all right. |
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.