ACCORD Freedom Trail-81 Bridge Street
Posted by: 
Markerman62
N 29° 53.337 W 081° 18.868
17R E 469636 N 3306521
Part of the Freedom Trail located in St. Augustine.
Waymark Code: WMGB28
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 02/08/2013
Views: 4
This Victorian house in the historic Lincolnville neighborhood (founded by freed slaves after the Civil War) became a civil rights landmark in 1964. It was a gathering place for people in the movement, where they could meet, rest, seek solace, and get something to eat, courtesy of John and Cora Tyson. By day, Mr. and Mrs. Tyson worked the cafeteria at Webster Elementary School. They did extra work during their off-hours to support the campaign against racial discrimination.
Those who enjoyed the Tysons hospitality obliged them by inscribing their names in the family bible. It read like a "Who's Who" of the civil rights movement, including Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young, C. T. Vivian, Dora McDonald, Fred Shuttlesworth, Hosea Williams, and others.
To see that the accomplishments and sacrifices of those who marched and sat-in and knelt-in and swam-in and waded-in (and were often beaten and jailed) were properly honored for their role in changing America and inspiring the world, Mrs. Tyson served in the 21st century as vice president of ACCORD (the Anniversary to Commemorate the Civil Rights Demonstrations, Inc.).
At a 2008 ceremony at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, on the 40th anniversary of the assassination of their most famous guest, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mrs. Tyson remembered how much he enjoyed her iced tea, and told the press that "Dr. King was a Moses."
Marker Number: None
Date: July 2, 2009
County: St Johns
Marker Type: Plaque
Sponsored or placed by: Northrop Grumman
Website: Not listed
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