The story
On February 29, 1960, about 40 students from George S. Middleton and Howard W. Blake high schools held a peaceful sit-in at the Woolworth lunch counter at 901 N. Franklin Street. Clarence Fort, president of the NAACP Youth Council, and the Rev. A. Leon Lowry, the NAACP state president, led the protest against segregated public accommodations.
Mayor Julian B. Lane first had police escort the students out. After about a week of demonstrations he agreed to form a biracial committee to address their concerns. By September 1960 Tampa's lunch counters were integrated without the violence seen in many other parts of the country.
The city's marker lists 32 participants, 16 from each school, including student council presidents George Edgecomb of Middleton and Shafter Scott of Blake. Wikipedia places the Woolworth store beside the Kress building, in the block known as the Kress block.
What's There Now
Unknown; a historical marker commemorates the sit-in.
Everything that was here
- Date unknown
F. W. Woolworth Store (1960 lunch counter sit-in)Store
On February 29, 1960, high school students sat down at this lunch counter, and by September Tampa's counters were integrated.
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Nearby history
S. H. Kress and Co.
Floridan Hotel
The Hub Bar
Tampa Theatre
Franklin Theatre / Florida Theatre
Maas Brothers Department Store
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