Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Woolworth Sit-In
Tampa's Former F.W. Woolworth Store
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, May 30, 2018
1. Woolworth Sit-In Marker Side 1
Woolworth's variety store was the scene of a pivotal event that started on February 29, 1960. Clarence Fort, President of the N.A.A.C.P. Youth Council and Reverend A. Leon Lowry, N.A.A.C.P. State president, led about 40 students (from George S. Middleton and Howard W. Blake High Schools) in a peaceful sit-in at F.W. Woolworth's lunch counter at 801 North Franklin Street. At the time, Tampa Mayor Julian B. Lane assigned police to escort the young protestors and after about a week Lane agreed to appoint a Bi-Racial Committee to look into the demonstrators complaints. By September, Tampa's lunch counters were integrated without the violence seen in many other parts of the country. (Continued on other side)
Side 2
(Continued from other side)
Some of the participants on February 29, 1960 included:
George S. Middleton High School
George Edgecomb, President of Student Council ·
Alberta Gaskins ·
Arnold Dubose ·
Arthenia Joyner ·
Barbara Wright ·
Carl Warren ·
Doris Cross ·
Eloise Gordon ·
Inez Anderson ·
Jacqueline McKinney Preston ·
James "Jim" Hargrett, Jr. ·
Joy Lawe Armstrong ·
Nelson Griffith ·
Pearl Higdon Urshery ·
Tereceia Vann ·
Theodore Lawe
Howard W. Blake High School
Shafter Scott, President of Student Council ·
Bernard Clark ·
Bernard Flowers ·
Betty Austin ·
Carmen Grinan ·
Eddie McIntosh ·
Evelyn Alexander ·
Flerida Gonzalez ·
Henry Carley ·
Hildreth Fleming ·
John Billups ·
Leroy Long ·
Mary Franklin ·
Ronald Cherry ·
Wilbert
this page online
Erected 2018 by Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council, Tampa Woolworth Project.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. A significant historical date for this entry is February 29, 1960.
Location. 27° 57.048′ N, 82° 27.554′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. Marker is at the intersection of East Polk Street and North Franklin Street, on the right when traveling west on East Polk Street. This marker and building sits just north of the historic Tampa Theater. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 East Polk Street, Tampa FL 33602, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tampa Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); Teco Energy's Tampa Electric Company (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); John And Ellen Jackson: Tampa Pioneers (about 400 feet away); WDAE-Florida's First Radio Station (about 400 feet away); Federal Building (about 600 feet away); First United Methodist Church (about 700 feet away); Sacred Heart Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jimi Hendrix (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.
Also see . . .
1. The Tampa Woolworth Project. (Submitted on July 18, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)
2. Woolworth Marker Unveiling May 19, 2018 (YouTube, 3 mins.). "On Feb. 29, 1960, Clarence Fort led a lunch counter sit-in for racial integration at the F.W. Woolworth store in Downtown Tampa. The sit-in
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, May 30, 2018
2. Woolworth Sit-In Marker Side 2
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, May 30, 2018
3. Woolworth Sit-In Marker in middle of picture looking west on Polk St. toward Franklin St
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, May 30, 2018
4. Clarence Fort
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, May 30, 2018
5. Lunch Counter
Credits. This page was last revised on July 19, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,010 times since then and 278 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 18, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
