Door County Maritime Museum Introduces the “John Purves” Float

The Door County Maritime Museum’s “John Purves” float. Submitted.

The Door County Maritime Museum’s Tug John Purves has opened its doors for another season of tours in Sturgeon Bay but its new likeness will also be touring the peninsula following a formal christening in Sturgeon Bay.

The “new” Purves is a stunning replica of the immaculately restored 149-foot tug. Built on a truck chassis, the parade float features a number of the most enduring aspects of its much larger namesake, complete with smoke and horns.

The idea for the float was to cast even more attention on the Sturgeon Bay museum’s in-water exhibit, the Purves having been one of the largest and most powerful tugs during its distinguished career on the Great Lakes following the purchase and repowering of the tug by the Roen Steamship Company.

Built in 1919 and christened the Butterfield, the John Purves has a colorful past that even included World War II duty in the Aleutian Islands. The tug made its way to Sturgeon Bay in 1956 when purchased by Roen. It was eventually sold, but the tug now again carries the Roen colors and has been outfitted to appear much as it did while operated by Roen in the 1950s and ‘60s thanks to a remarkable five-year all-volunteer restoration. Capt. John Roen, company owner, renamed the tug in honor of his long-time business manager and close friend.

Roen’s red colors have been carried over to the float, which was built and donated by the Roen Salvage Company, still owned and operated by the Roen family. For more information visit dcmm.org.