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TARPON SPRINGS — The boat represents everything Tarpon Springs.
After six months of work, Tarpon Springs has refurbished a sponge boat that sits on the Sponge Docks on Dodecanese Boulevard.
Dubbed the Tarpon Springs, the boat was built in 1936 for the Samarkos Brothers Sponge Co., a sponge business in town.
"Not only is this a city asset, but it represents the culture of Tarpon Springs," city Commissioner Chris Alahouzos said. "It's an attraction to us and contributes to the local economy because tourists are here to see the sponge boats, and this is one of the originals."
With a matching Florida Historic Preservation grant in 1994, the city purchased the 43-foot, 22-ton boat for $40,000. At the time, it was called the Louis Pappas Sponge Boat. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Tarpon Springs is the only place in the western hemisphere where traditional Greek sponge boats can be found, said Kathleen Monahan, the city's cultural and civic services director.
It would have cost the city $100,000 to refurbish the boat with outside labor. So all the work was done by workers in the city's Building and Maintenance Department. It cost $18,000 for parts and $2,100 in city labor. The project was completed about two weeks ago.
"We have photos from start to finish," said Tom Funcheon, Tarpon Springs' public services superintendent. "We are very proud of the quality of workmanship that was put in."
Demorris A. Lee can be reached at dalee@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4174.
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