Gault Street Steps

Note: This site is in a residential neighborhood. If you plan to visit and view the historical marker, be respectful.

1920s Development

Gault Street was developed in the 1920s by Henry Proctor, a prominent member of the African American community.

Its original residents were educators and blue-collar workers.

St. Augustine Civil Rights Movement

During the 1950s and 1960s, Gault Street residents were active in local Civil Rights demonstrations. Amongst these activists were Lillian and Bungum Roberson, who lived at 167 Gault Street with their four sons.

In 1963, the local Fullerwood School (10 Hildreth Drive) was desegregated. This was nearly ten years after the Supreme Court ruled that public schools in the United States were not to be racially segregated. The Robersons' sons were accepted into Fullerwood for the 1963 school year. However, this was not without backlash from local White supremacists. 

Gault Street Firebombings

Two attempts were made to harm the Robersons and destroy their home with firebombs. The first attempt, in October of 1963, was not successful.

On February 7, 1964, a second fire bomb was thrown into their home. That night, 167 Gault Street was completely destroyed, but the Roberson family was able to escape. Bungum Roberson was also fired by the local Ford dealership for his participation in the St. Augustine Civil Rights Movement.

These red brick steps are all that remain of the Roberson home. They were not the only family in St. Augustine to suffer such attacks for their activism. The marker at this site serves to honor the bravery of the Robersons and other local African American activists.

The ACCORD Freedom Trail Marker at 167 Gault Street was unveiled to the public in July 2007.

Resources

Tap the blue underlined text to view the following online resources.

Gault Street marker text from the Historical Marker Database.

Fullerwood School article from the ACCORD Freedom Trail website.

"ACCORD recognizes activists" 2011 article from the St. Augustine Record.

"St. Augustine marks Civil Rights" 2007 article from the The Gainesville Sun.