St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
79 Bridge Street
ACCORD Freedom Trail
Photographed By Mrs. Shirley Williams-Galvin
1. 79 Bridge Street Marker
The Rudcarlie Building at 79 Bridge Street was built in the 1950's by Dr. Rudolph N. Gordon (1901-1959) and named for the members of his family. Rudolph, Carlotta, and Rosalie. It was the first medical/dental office constructed in St. Augustine without racially segregated waiting rooms.After Dr. Gordon's death, the office was rented to Dr. Robert B. Hayling, a dentist who became a prominent leader of the civil rights movement in St. Augustine. Many of the planning sessions for the movement were held here, with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others. On one occasion, the owner of a local tourist attraction came to the office with a gun and said he intended to kill Dr. King, "but I can't do it, because when I look at you, I see that you are a God-sent man." Lawyers who came to support the civil rights efforts made this building their headquarters as well. Two of them--Alvin J. Bronstein and Ralph Temple--were honored by ACCORD when they returned to the Ancient City in 2005.
Dr. Gordon's widow, Mrs. Rosalie Gordon-Mills (1907-2004) made history in 1965 when she became the first black woman in 400 years to seek public office
this page online
This Historical Marker Presented this 2nd Day of July, 2007 by: Northrop Grumman
Erected 2007 by The 40th Anniversary to Commemorate the Civil Rights Demonstrations, Inc.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Florida, St. Augustine Freedom Trail, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is July 2007.
Location. 29° 53.344′ N, 81° 18.845′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. Marker is on Bridge Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 79 Bridge Street, Saint Augustine FL 32084, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 84 Bridge Street (within shouting distance of this marker); 81 Bridge Street (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Mary's Missionary Baptist (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 76 Washington Street (about 300 feet away); Record Building (Cordova Apartments) (about 400 feet away); Lincolnville Historic District (about 500 feet away); Canova-Dow and Canova-de Medicis Houses
Photographed By Gwendolyn Duncan, September 11, 2007
2. 79 Bridge Street Marker and the Rudcarlie Building
Also see . . . ACCORD Freedom Trail website. (Submitted on May 16, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio.)
Additional keywords. St. Augustine Freedom Trail
Photographed By Gwendolyn Duncan
3. 79 Bridge Street and Marker
Photographed By James R. Murray, May 20, 2014
4. 79 Bridge Street- Dr. Hayling's Dental Office in 2014.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 2, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2008, by Gwendolyn Duncan of St. Augustine, Florida. This page has been viewed 3,090 times since then and 51 times this year. Last updated on May 7, 2008, by Gwendolyn Duncan of St. Augustine, Florida. Photos: 1. submitted on May 7, 2008, by Gwendolyn Duncan of St. Augustine, Florida. 2. submitted on May 4, 2008, by Gwendolyn Duncan of St. Augustine, Florida. 3. submitted on May 7, 2008, by Gwendolyn Duncan of St. Augustine, Florida. 4. submitted on May 21, 2014, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
