Rock Hill in York County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
McCrory's Civil Rights Sit-ins
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"Friendship Nine"
Photographed by Stanley and Terrie Howard, October 12, 2008
1. McCrory's Civil Rights Sit-ins Marker
McCrory's Civil Rights Sit-ins. This building, built in 1901, was occupied by McCrory's Five & Dime from 1937 to 1997. On February 12, 1960, black students from Friendship Jr. College in Rock Hill were denied service at the McCrory's lunch counter but refused to leave. Their "sit-in" was one of the first of many calling attention to segregated public places in downtown Rock Hill. These protests lasted for more than a year.
"Friendship Nine". Many Rock Hill protesters were arrested, convicted, and fined. On January 31, 1961, ten students from Friendship Jr. College were arrested when they refused to leave McCrory's. Nine would not pay their fines and became the first Civil Rights sit-in protesters in the nation to serve jail time. This new "Jail No Bail" strategy by "the Friendship Nine" was soon adopted as the model strategy for the Freedom Rides of 1961.
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 date for this entry is January 31, 1961.
Location. 34° 55.531′ N, 81° 1.607′ W. Marker is in Rock Hill, South Carolina, in York County. It is on East Main Street west of
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands and in the Olde English District. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Jail, No Bail! (here, next to this marker); Rock Hill's Civil Rights Giant (a few steps from this marker); Rock Hill's Sit-in Movement (a few steps from 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); From Mall To Main (within shouting distance of this marker); Winthrop's Black Pioneers (within shouting distance of this marker); Freedom Walkway (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rock Hill.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
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
Photographed by Stanley and Terrie Howard, October 12, 2008
2. "Friendship Nine" Marker
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.
Photographed by Stanley and Terrie Howard, October 12, 2008
3. McCrory's Civil Rights Sit-ins / "Friendship Nine" Marker
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 September 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2009, by Stanley and Terrie Howard of Greer, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 8,789 times since then and 41 times this year. Last updated on September 26, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 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. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
