May 20th Stop 10 on the ACCORD Tour- 81 Bridge Street The Tyson Home- A gathering place of hospitality for Dr King and others during the movement

81 Bridge Street ACCORD Freedom Trail

Inscription. 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 Mrs. Cora Tyson. By day, she was the cafeteria manager at Webster Elementary School, but she did extra work during her off-hours to support the campaign against racial discrimination. Those who enjoyed her hospitality obliged her by inscribing their names in her 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 her most famous guest, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mrs. Tyson remembered how much he enjoyed her iced tea, and told the press "Dr. King was a Moses." This Historic Marker is presented this 2nd day of July 2009 by the Northrop Grumman Corporation Erected 2009 by The 40th Anniversary to Commemorate the Civil Rights Demonstrations, Inc. (ACCORD). Marker series. This marker is included in the Florida, St. Augustine Freedom Trail, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. marker series. Location. 29° 53.337′ N, 81° 18.864′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in Saint Johns County. Marker is on Bridge Street. Dr. King Slept here!!!