“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires
in people’s minds.” – Samuel Adams
July 5, 2026
A Joyful People Celebrate the 250th
The Birth of Liberty
When Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, it marked a turning point in American history. The idea that ordinary people could claim liberty was new in a world ruled by kings and empires. The signing is often seen as the beginning of the Revolutionary War, which dragged on until 1783, but the real spark came earlier—in 1773, when Sam Adams and his “Sons of Liberty” dumped British tea into Boston Harbor. They boarded three ships—the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver—and threw overboard 92,000 pounds of tea to protest the taxes King George III had put on the colonies. Adjusted for today’s money, that’s about $2.3 million worth of tea gone in a single night.
Fast forward to recent times, and the legacy of the Dartmouth lives on. In 2009, Glenn Lord built a replica of the historic ship, and Billie Tucker Volpe—then Chairman of the First Coast Tea Party—wrote about its beginnings. She called Glenn’s creation “magnificent,” describing it as a living symbol of the Tea Party movement. People were drawn to the Dartmouth. Children climbed aboard for photos, veterans came to salute, and it became a touchstone for anyone wanting to connect with history.
The St. Augustine Tea Party (SATP) acquired the replica when it was five years old, and for a while, it looked as grand as ever. But over time, changes and neglect chipped away at the ship’s character. Weather took its toll, and disputes over ownership and access meant the Dartmouth sat unattended for two years. By the time SATP finally regained possession—thanks to a court order enforced by the Putnam County Sheriff on May 14, 2026—the ship was in rough shape, with holes in the hull, missing trim, and rotting wood.
TCCR Staff Photo
When Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, it marked a turning point in American history. The idea that ordinary people could claim liberty was new in a world ruled by kings and empires. The signing is often seen as the beginning of the Revolutionary War, which dragged on until 1783, but the real spark came earlier—in 1773, when Sam Adams and his “Sons of Liberty” dumped British tea into Boston Harbor. They boarded three ships—the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver—and threw overboard 92,000 pounds of tea to protest the taxes King George III had put on the colonies. Adjusted for today’s money, that’s about $2.3 million worth of tea gone in a single night.
Fast forward to recent times, and the legacy of the Dartmouth lives on. In 2009, Glenn Lord built a replica of the historic ship, and Billie Tucker Volpe—then Chairman of the First Coast Tea Party—wrote about its beginnings. She called Glenn’s creation “magnificent,” describing it as a living symbol of the Tea Party movement. People were drawn to the Dartmouth. Children climbed aboard for photos, veterans came to salute, and it became a touchstone for anyone wanting to connect with history.
The St. Augustine Tea Party (SATP) acquired the replica when it was five years old, and for a while, it looked as grand as ever. But over time, changes and neglect chipped away at the ship’s character. Weather took its toll, and disputes over ownership and access meant the Dartmouth sat unattended for two years. By the time SATP finally regained possession—thanks to a court order enforced by the Putnam County Sheriff on May 14, 2026—the ship was in rough shape, with holes in the hull, missing trim, and rotting wood.
With the 250th Independence Day fast approaching, it was clear: the Dartmouth needed a full restoration. SATP Chairman Lance Thate took charge, acting as both architect and general contractor, determined to bring the ship back to its former glory in time for the celebration. The restoration was completed, and the Dartmouth was unveiled at the Castillo de San Marcos, the old Spanish fort that’s stood in St. Augustine since 1695. For more than a decade, the Dartmouth has appeared there every July 4th, but this year, restored to “like-new” condition, it stood as a vivid reminder of the Tea Party’s story and the issues that launched a revolution.
TCCR Staff Photo July 4, 2026
https://eyeonjacksonville.com/the-dartmouth-a-tea-party-symbol-that-refused-to-sink/
On July 4, 2026 the fully restored Dartmouth created the same photo frenzy that happened in 2009. Tea Party volunteers took pictures of people, with the public’s cameras, who wanted themselves and their families to be associated with the historic event that the Dartmouth portrayed. The Tea Party estimates that 3500 pictures were taken of about a thousand groups of people. Often there were people standing in line to be photographed with the Dartmouth, Betsy Ross and the Town Criers in period clothes. But the main attraction was the Dartmouth. No one dared to challenge the Dartmouth’s presence. Zero push-back.
There was joy on the 250th. Hope too. The story continues with the pictures.
TCCR Staff Photos 7-4-2026 Cameraman Dave
TCCR Staff Photos 7-4-2026
TCCR Staff Photos 7-4-2026
TCCR Staff Photos 7-4-2026
TCCR Staff Photos 7-4-2026
TCCR Staff Photos 7-4-2026
June 27, 2026
Dartmouth’s Restoration Complete
Has First Visitor the Next Day
On June 26, 2026 the Dartmouth’s restoration was officially declared complete by the SATP’s Restoration Committee. According to the St. Augustine Tea Party, Inc. Chairman, Lance Thate, the work came in a week ahead of schedule. The very next day the Dartmouth had its first visitor. Charles Gambaro, a candidate, for the US 6th Congressional District in Florida, boarded the ship. Gambaro is an “America First” candidate who is running as a Republican.
Photos by TCCR Staff
Photos by TCCR Staff
Like our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/towncrier2010/
June 22, 2026
Dartmouth Restoration on Schedule for 250th Anniversary
The above picture is a picture of the Dartmouth one day after the acquisition by St. Augustine Tea Party, Inc. on March 7, 2014.
Pictured is the Dartmouth in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in historic district of St. Augustine, Florida on March 8th. It is this date that the restoration of the Dartmouth is set. This is the image of the boat that went to Washington in December 2009. The original developer of the Dartmouth, Glenn Lord, played a pivotal role in shaping the iconic imagery of the Tea Party Movement itself by his creation. The boat with tea boxes on the deck tells the story of the Sons of Liberty’s 1773 act of defiance that would start the war for independence in 1776.
TCCR Staff Photo 3-08-2014
Seventeen years of exposure to the elements and the deliberate neglect during the last two years of forced captivity and inactivity has created a need for a complete restoration.
TCCR Staff Photo As received 5-14-26
There were numerous welding failures due to rust. Steel substructure was re-welded and then the rust was neutralized with OSPHO. After that the steel was sealed with Kyrlon paint.
The same technique as used with the original siding was used again except that it is ¼ inch thicker and pressure treated Southern Pine. The special milled siding was pre-painted on all sides before installation to help preserve it.While there are many details left to complete the restoration, the major processes are complete. The restoration crew is confident that the Dartmouth will be ready for public display on the Nation’s 250th anniversary.
TCCR Staff Photo Siding removed
TCCR Staff Photo OSPHO Spraying
TCCR Staff Photos Substructure work complete
TCCR Staff Photo 6-22-26 Siding Complete Trim and Rails in Process
While there are many details left to complete the restoration, the major processes are complete. The restoration crew is confident that the Dartmouth will be ready for public display on the Nation’s 250th anniversary.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ExLRStBZIDjjzM_Vm_TIw
Like our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/towncrier2010/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ExLRStBZIDjjzM_Vm_TIw
Like our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/towncrier2010/
June 5, 2026
The January 6 Conspiracy
By Roderick T. Beaman
Well before Election Day 2020, Democrats were beginning to panic. There was a strong possibility that their nominee, Joseph Biden would be defeated. The protective wall they’d carefully built around him could crack and his mental deterioration might become undeniable.
TCCR Staff Photo
They began plotting what they would do if Donald J. Trump won re- election. They came up with the idea of an uprising before his second inauguration. They would blame it on the MAGA, Republicans and Donald J. Trump. It could destroy all of them.
All they needed would be some violence that they would provide and if he ordered a crackdown, they could showcase it as another example of Trump persecuting his opponents. The plot was hatched and planned by many Democrats along with Antifa, BLM and other far left wing organizations.
If Biden were designated the winner, as he was, they could still use the plan to discredit Trump and his supporters. The plot was ready to go into high gear when Donald J. Trump urged his supporters to go Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021 and peaceably demonstrate against the election. The right to assemble for the redress of grievances is guaranteed & in The Constitution but, unfortunately, it played perfectly into their hands. Leftist plants agitated, goaded & even led some of the demonstrators into violence & claimed it was an insurrection, a complete lie that even the most superficial evaluation would conclude.
The leftists blamed MAGA and conservatives then initiated a cover up that has been successful but is beginning to unravel. Expect multiple arrests during the coming weeks.
TCCR Staff Screenshot
Like our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/towncrier2010/
.