Rock Hill in York County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
McCrory's Civil Rights Sit-ins / "Friendship Nine"
Inscription.
Erected 2007 by The Culture and Heritage Museums of York County and the City of Rock Hill. (Marker Number 46-37.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Civil Rights . A significant historical month for this entry is January 1840.
Location. 34° 55.531′ N, 81° 1.607′ W. Marker is in Rock Hill, South Carolina, in York County. It is in . Marker is on E Main Sreet. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 135 E Main St, Rock Hill SC 29730, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Dalton Building (a few steps from this marker); Village of Rock Hill / City of Rock Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Andrew Jackson Hotel / Vernon Grant (within shouting distance of this marker); From Mall To Main (within shouting distance of this marker); The A. Friedheim & Bro. And Smith-Fewell Buildings (within shouting distance of this marker); 202 East Main Street (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); U.S. Post Office and Courthouse / Citizen's Building (about 300 feet away); Black Plantation / Hampton Campaign (about 400 feet away); Old Town Fact (about 400 feet away); Rock Hill (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rock Hill.
Also see . . .
1. McCrory Stores. J.G. McCrory's or McCrory Stores was a chain of five and dime stores in the United States based in York, Pennsylvania. (Submitted on January 23, 2010, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
2. Friendship Jr. College. Official website of Friendship Jr. College. (Submitted on January 23, 2010, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
3. Friendship Nine. The Friendship Nine was a group of African American men who went to jail after staging a sit-in at a segregated McCrory's lunch counter in Rock Hill, South Carolina in 1961. (Submitted on January 23, 2010, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
4. A Cying Racist Struggles to Deal with His Past Sins. Elwin Hope Wilson leans back in his recliner at his home in Rock Hill, SC, a sad, sickly man haunted by time. (Submitted on January 23, 2010, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
Additional commentary.
1. List of the Friendship Nine
John Gaines
Thomas Gaither (not a Friendship student)
Clarence Graham
W.T. "Dub" Massey
Willie McCleod
Robert McCullough (d. August 7, 2006)
James Wells
David Williamson Jr.
Mack Workman
— Submitted January 23, 2010, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.

Courtesy of Rock Hill Evening Herald, 1960
4. "Friendship Nine"
One of the civil rights incidents in downtown Rock Hill in the sixties. This photo from the Feb. 13, 1960, Evening Herald, described Bunt Gill wiping egg from his hat this way: Bunt Gill, a negro passer-by, wipes egg from hat as police stand guard. Hurled egg struck Gill as demonstrators filed out West Main. Elwin Wilson, now 72, is pictured in white jersey over Gill's left shoulder. Wilson, who said he threw the egg, recently apologized to black protesters of segregation.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2009, by Stanley and Terrie Howard of Greer, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 8,128 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 4, 2009, by Stanley and Terrie Howard of Greer, South Carolina. 4. submitted on March 5, 2009, by Stanley and Terrie Howard of Greer, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.