Two historical markers for civil rights movement sites in St. Augustine have disappeared

Two historical markers on St. Augustine buildings that were important during the civil rights movement have vanished.

They are sites on the ACCORD Freedom Trail, which commemorates locations of significant events in St. Augustine as people fought for racial equality.

“The struggle wasn’t an easy thing, you know,” said Barbara Vickers, who has lived across the street from one of those sites since the 1950s.

A leader in the St. Augustine civil rights movement, Dr. R.B. Hayling lived there during the early 1960s.

The home became a site of racist attacks.

“When Dr. Hayling was living there, the Klan used to come through here and we used to have to not have any lights in the house, because if there were lights in the house, they would shoot,” Vickers said.

The home’s history earned it a historical marker as a site on the ACCORD Freedom Trail. Now the sign has vanished.

The house is up for sale; both the salesperson and the remodeling company told Action News Jax they have no idea where the sign went.

“I just couldn’t imagine somebody just taking up history like that. I mean, it’s history,” Vickers said.

The marker commemorating 64 Washington St. recently disappeared as well.

It was the site of the St. Augustine NAACP office from the 1970s until the early 1990s.

“People should know the importance of just moving history like that, and letting it just disappear. It’s not right,” Vickers said.

If you know where these missing markers are, e-mail reporter Jenna Bourne at jbourne@actionnewsjax.com or contact@accordfreedomtrail.org.

Cox Media Group