Local volunteer asks DeLand to back maritime and military museum for tugboat artifacts

At the Jan. 6 meeting Dan Friend, a local volunteer and organizer, asked the DeLand City Commission to support his effort to establish a Saint John’s Maritime and Military Museum to house artifacts from the ST 479 “Tiger” tugboat and other local collections.

Why it matters: Friend described a local historic artifact (the tugboat) and said a museum would preserve items that otherwise could be dispersed; he asked the city for a supportive resolution to strengthen fundraising outreach and to signal municipal support as his organization pursues potential state or national designations and private funding.

What Friend told the commission

- Historical artifacts and the tugboat collection: Friend said the tugboat and related artifacts have local historic value and that curating the collection in a museum would prevent dispersal of materials as owners and donors age.

- Site considerations: Friend said attempts to place the boat at Blue Springs Park were halted by archaeological constraints — “shell middens and burial mounds” — and that those features precluded building there. He described an alternative strategy to request a national-monument designation on Lake County land in the Ocala National Forest adjacent to accessible, high ground. He emphasized visibility and road access as site selection criteria.

- Funding and ask: Friend estimated the project could raise about $600,000 from an “ECHO” program (he described it as plausible) as seed funding, and asked the City of DeLand for a supportive resolution that would not obligate the city to contribute funds but would strengthen his organization’s ability to solicit private and public grants and major donors.

- Next steps: Friend said he met with the mayor earlier in the day and asked for a meeting among stakeholders to consider a supportive resolution and planning steps. He asked the commission to consider a written statement of support to assist with fundraising solicitations.

Commission response and record

The mayor acknowledged receipt of materials Friend dropped off earlier that day and city staff included his outline in the meeting packet. No formal action or vote was taken on Friend’s request at the Jan. 6 meeting; the presentation was recorded as public comment and the commission indicated staff and the mayor would follow up.

Ending: Friend framed the proposal as patriotic and an attraction for the area and said he would seek state and private funding; the commission accepted the public comment and packet materials for follow-up.