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 | 1895-06-13 | 3 | The schooner Wm. Finch cleared Tuesday for Racine. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Wm. Finch | 1895-04-25 | 3 | Cleared Monday for Manitowoc, with a cargo of cheese box material for P. Gablowsky & Co. This is her first trip of the season. | ||
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Wm. Finch | 1895-05-09 | 3 | The schooner Wm. Finch cleared on Monday, with a cargo, composed of wood, spars and shingles, for Racine. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Wm. Finch | 1895-03-28 | 3 | Receiving repairs and is being newly painted. She will be under the command by her owner, Capt. Michael Wenniger. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Wm. Finch | 1895-09-19 | 3 | Arrived from the south with a large amount of back freight, consisting of coal and merchandise. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Wm. Finch | 1895-12-12 | 3 | Capt. Mich. Wenniger has laid up his vessel, the Wm. Finch, in this harbor. The Finch has been relieved of her canvas, and made snug for winter. | ||
| 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 | 1893-10-26 | 3 | Cleared for Racine with a cargo of shingles last week. She is expected back to-day if the wind held favorable. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Wm. Finch | 1893-09-21 | 3 | Took on a cargo of shingles here for Gablowsky & Co, S. L. Hall, Zastrow & Sanderman and A. Bauman, consigned to parties in Racine. | |
| Ahnapee (Algoma) Record | Schooner | Wm. Finch | 1893-10-05 | 3 | In port a couple of weeks. Owner prefeering to let his craft lay in port a while to breasting her against the waves at the prevailing freight rates. |
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.