Persephone (tugboat) facts for kids
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Persephone is a famous steel tugboat. It was used in the popular Canadian TV show The Beachcombers. This boat was first called John Henry. Today, you can see it as a museum ship in Gibsons, British Columbia.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada |
|
| Name | Persephone |
| Owner | Harry J. Smith, Gibsons, British Columbia |
| Launched | 1965 |
| Commissioned | as John Henry |
| In service | April 26, 1965 |
| Out of service | 1991 |
| Homeport | Vancouver |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Donated to Town of Gibsons as a Museum Ship in 1991. Preserved in dry berth 2007. |
| Notes | tug and work boat |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 6 Tons Gross, 5 Tons Registered |
| Length | 26.1 feet |
| Beam | 9.3 feet |
| Depth of hold | 2.6 feet |
| Installed power | 120 Horsepower |
| Notes | Source for specifications: "List of Shipping" Canadian Department of Transport, 1966, 1990, 1995 |
The Famous Tugboat Persephone
Building and Early Life
The tugboat was built in 1965. A local boat builder named John F Gooldrup made it for Harry "Smitty" Smith. Smith owned Smith's Marina in Gibsons. The boat was first named John Henry. It worked as a small tug and work boat. Its job was to help move logs along the Sunshine Coast waters.
Becoming a TV Star
In 1972, the CBC Television rented the boat. They wanted it for their new TV series, The Beachcombers. The boat played a log salvage boat. This boat belonged to the main character, Nick Adonidas. The show renamed the tugboat Persephone. This name came from a Greek goddess. It matched Nick Adonidas' Greek background.
Persephone appeared in almost every episode of the long-running show. Its worn, black hull became a well-known part of the series. Even though it was small and not very fast, Persephone was strong and reliable. It became like a character itself. The show often showed Persephone next to Relic's fast jet boat. Relic was Nick Adonidas' rival.
Life After the Show
The TV series ended in 1990. After that, the engine was taken out of Persephone. Harry Smith gave the boat to the Town of Gibsons in 1991. For several years, the tug was kept at the town's public works yard.
In 2003, the Sunshine Coast Museum & Archives Society took over the tug. They wanted to restore it. On June 13, 2003, John Henry was removed from the official boat list. Volunteers worked hard to make the tug look just like Persephone from the TV show.
A Museum Ship
The restoration was finished in 2007. The tug was then given back to the Town of Gibsons. Everyone agreed that the boat would not go into the water again. Instead, it would be shown off in the town. A special spot was chosen for it. This spot was near Gower Point Road. It was also close to the Sunshine Coast Museum & Archives. The museum still has a display about The Beachcombers. The famous Molly's Reach cafe building from the show was also nearby.
In July 2007, Persephone was placed on a special landscaped stand. A crane lifted it into place during the town's Sea Cavalcade celebrations. In 2020, the area where Persephone was displayed was planned for new buildings. So, a new home was needed for the tug. In December 2020, B.C. Ferries promised money. This money would help restore the boat more and build a new display area for it.
