Historical Collection Woolworth’s Counter Replica Honors Civil Rights Pioneers

Last Updated 10/28/2024

By Meredith Collins

For many of us, “history” seems so far away, something we learned about in school or read about in a textbook. The Statesville Historical Collection’s recreation of the F. W. Woolworth counter brings history home to a very pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement that happened right here in Statesville, NC with community members still well-known today.

Interestingly enough, during renovations of The Holland Building (117 South Center Street, Downtown Statesville) to make it the new home of the Statesville Historical Collection, they discovered an entire section of original tile still remaining from when the building was a Woolworths decades ago. A new wall had just been built right over it. Of course, that sparked local collector and proprietor of the Statesville Historical Collection, Dr. Steve Hill, to do a little demo and recreate the original counter to tell the story of how Statesville was involved in the Civil Rights Movement. The powerful display includes original bar stools, photos and menus. A mirror behind allows visitors to “reflect” on what it means to take a stand for something they believe in.

Andre Nabors, Visit NC Partner Relations Manager; Kim Wasson, Statesville City Councilwoman; Dorothy Woodard, Woolworth's Sit-In Protestor; and Steve Hill, local historian and proprietor of the Statesville Historical Collection at the replica of the F.W. Woolworth's Counter back in the 1960s. Sit-ins at this location started the Civil Rights Movement in Statesville, NC. 

“It’s been an eye-opening experience to hear the stories of Dorothy Woodard and James Hammons,” Dr. Hill said. “I was just a 6-year-old at the time. We read about it, we know about the Greensboro sit-in, but most people don’t realize we had our own right here in Statesville. I think it’s long overdue that we do something for those Civil Rights pioneers right here in our own community.”

One of those pioneers is Dorothy Woodard. As a 14-year-old student, Dorothy joined the civil rights sit-in protest at the Woolworth’s counter in Statesville in March 1960. At this time, African Americans could shop in the Woolworth’s store in downtown Statesville, but the lunch counter was “Whites Only”. On February 1, 1960, four African Americans sat at the lunch counter at the Woolworth’s in Greensboro, starting a movement that would ripple across the south and inspire sit-ins in 55 cities.

On March 15, 1960, Statesville had their first sit-in at the Woolworth’s Counter. Four student teachers from the Unity School (Charles Hart, Margaret Glenn Johnson, Nannie Houston Potts and Shirley Ruth Moten Imes) sat at the Woolworth’s Counter for 45 minutes before being escorted out by local police. After the sit-in, the student teachers were transferred back to their local colleges and sent to other schools. They were later charged with trespassing and fined. Locals were determined not to let the movement stop there. News of the demonstration spread, and crowds gathered around the store. Later that evening, acts of violence erupted with African Americans in the community targeted and rocks thrown through their windows.


The group inspired a movement that continued. On March 22, 1960, the second sit-in took place and then the third on March 30, 1960. These sit-ins involved many high school students. Each time, they filed in orderly and were told the counter was “closed for cleaning”. In April 1960, 11 students were jailed with a $300 bond.
T.V. Magnum came to bail the students out and every time he came with the money, Dorothy says the bail amount was raised. Finally, at 11:15pm with a total of $2,400, Magnum bailed the 8 students out of jail. The others were juveniles and had been sent home. 

Dorothy Woodard, a 14-year-old student at the Unity School at the time of her arrest, was in the crowd at the first sit-in and participated in the later ones. Since she was a minor, she was not jailed but sent home with the other minors.

“Because of fear for their safety, a lot of people didn't allow their children to participate in the demonstrations at Woolworth's,” she said. “Mass meetings were held in local churches where civil rights issues and strategies were discussed. My grandma took me to those meetings and when I wanted to go downtown to protest, it was okay with her.”

Dorothy was terrified to participate in the sit-in. “I was crying, I don’t remember crying, but one of the other protesters told me I was crying because I didn’t want to go to jail. I was only 14 years old, probably the youngest of them all. Despite being terrified, I protested because I had to. It was not fair, and it just could not continue. We knew it was not fair.”

The efforts of the protestors paid off. Woolworth’s desegregated the lunch counter in Greensboro and then everywhere later that summer in July of 1960. People were starting to boycott and not shop at Woolworths at all, so they were losing money.

Dorothy says the sit-ins were not about being able to order a hamburger at the counter, in fact, she said they didn’t have the money to eat there anyway. She never returned to the lunch counter and did not go to the Woolworth’s Counter even after segregation ended and she was able to. “It wasn’t about the hamburger, but about the privilege to be able to do that,” she said. The first time sitting back in the Woolworth’s stool since that spring of 1960 was here at the Statesville Historical Collection replica in 2024.

Life During Segregation

Growing up during segregation, Dorothy recalls how education was supposed to be “separate but equal” but she says it was very far from equal. 

“When we got books in school, they had about 7 lines that you could write names on, and our lines were already full, which meant they had been used that many years already,” Dorothy said. “Things were carved into the desks. We had no library. In high school we could not do a lab experiment. Instead of getting to dissect a frog, we had to just look at a picture and imagine the experiment.”

Dorothy attended Chestnut Grove School which was grades 1-8 and then Unity School for 9-12 grade.

Despite these differences, Dorothy worked hard to learn what she could. “I learned whatever the teachers had to offer,” she said. “I did the same thing in college at Livingstone where I finished my requirements in 3.5 years. Then in Temple for graduate school, that’s when reality hit. I realized even though I had made honor roll here, I was still behind. That’s when you really know, education was not equal. I struggled a bit in calculus and thankfully a couple other students helped me – they had already had 3-4 years of calculus.”

Dorothy recalls other parts of segregation like two different water fountains outside the courthouse, a separate entrance for the Greyhound Bus Station and having to climb up the fire escape to the upper balcony of the Playhouse Theatre. At that time Statesville High School was only white students, and Dorothy remembers strict instructions from her grandma. “I would catch a ride and they would drop me off downtown so I could walk to my mom’s house,” she said. “The only instructions I ever got was to not cut across the lawn at Statesville High School. You would get in trouble. That grass was so pretty that I didn’t dare step a foot on it.”

A Future in Education

Dorothy was teaching at Oakwood Junior High School in 1969 during desegregation. “The kids were reassigned to different schools after Christmas,” she said. “The school board realized that all facilities were not equal, and they shut down the little black schools in the communities.”

Dorothy says desegregation was a very tense time in the schools. She took a short break from education because of the tense times, but then returned and ended up teaching at West Rowan High School for 24 years. Later, she was an assistant principal at Knox Middle School and then served as principal in Newton Conover City Schools. She remains involved in the Iredell-Statesville School system still today.

Dorothy continues to educate students and the community about segregation by telling her story.

“When I walked in and saw what Steve was planning, I was overwhelmed,” Dorothy said. “It’s so important to tell the story – if you don’t know the history, you’re doomed to repeat it. So many things are happening right now that could cause it to be repeated.”

Dorothy presses on to champion for equal rights for all.

The Statesville Historical Collection is located in The Holland Building at 117 South Center St, Downtown Statesville and will be open for visitors in December. Visit www.statesvillehistory.com for more information.

Statesville's Holiday Magic: December EventsWhat makes the holiday season in Statesville, NC, truly magical? Our special guest, Liz Petree, the Community Engagement Manager for Dow...
Exploring November in Statesville: Festivals and Fun AwaitGet ready to experience the November events Statesville, NC has to offer this month. From haunted trails to community gatherings, this e...
Historical Collection Woolworth’s Counter Replica Honors... For many of us, “history” seems so far away, something we learned about in school or read about in a textbook. The Statesville Historica...
Discover Statesville Podcast Wins Prestigious Davey AwardThe Discover Statesville Podcast, co-hosted by community advocates Cindy Sutton and Richard Griggs, has been honored with a prestigious ...
Nutcracker Ballet
Dec 06, 2024
6:00 PM EST
474 N. Center St.
Statesville, NC 28625
Read More 
Grietje's Garden of Rocky Ridge Farm Holiday Craft Event...
Dec 07, 2024
9:00 AM EST
324 Mosswood Road
Olin, NC 28660
Read More 
Tis the Season Christmas Show
Dec 07, 2024
2:00 PM EST
474 N. Center St.
Statesville, NC 28625
Read More 
Blake's Christmas
Dec 07, 2024
5:00 PM EST
1819 West Memorial Highway
Union Grove, NC 286898
Read More