CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Four living members of the Chapel Hill Nine, a group of high school students who staged the first sit-in in the town during segregation, are being honored with a marker in their name on Franklin Street.

• The four surviving members of the Chapel Hill Nine were honored Friday on the anniversary of their historic sit-in.
• In 1960, the high school teens sought service from Colonial Drug Store on Franklin Street, inspired by the A&T sit-ins. 
• A marker will be placed in their honor where Colonial Drug Store once stood. 

Albert Williams, Jim Merritt, David Mason Jr., and Clyde Perry are the four surviving men of the Chapel Hill nine who wanted to put a stop to segregation in Chapel Hill.

If you hadn’t heard of them before, their names will now forever be a part of the town’s history.

“We were the ones that started the fire,” said Williams. On February 28, 1960, nine teenagers from Lincoln High School in Chapel Hill wanted service in Colonial Drug Store on Franklin Street, with confidence the police would be called.

“We were the first high school kids to do a sit in and it, from day one I grew up in a segregated world and Chapel Hill was they say a southern part of heaven, but it was still segregated,” said Perry.

Merritt added, “I think it was time for it to happen here in Chapel Hill because we had been inspired by the sit-in at A&T.”

It was just the beginning of change for the town. Now 59 years to the day - the remaining Chapel Hill Nine have returned to the same spot to be recognized and honored with a marker in their name. It will be placed in front of the Colonial Drug Store location, which is now West End Wine Bar.

“I’m thankful that in my life as I tell the student that we were able to bring about a change. And it was kind of non-violent,” said Williams.

The dedication of this civil rights marker - comes just one week after another one was removed on franklin street by the town - the Jefferson Davis Highway Memorial.

“It allows us to heal and move forward. To take down something that was never put up by this community, that didn’t represent our community and really wasn’t, had much bearing in our community. To take something that was painful and unwelcoming for many people and to be able to put up something that actually reflects the true history,” said Mayor Pam Hemminger.

Thursday was just the dedication ceremony. The marker isn’t designed yet, but will be over the next year and be placed on the site this same day next year.

One interesting tidbit about all that they told us was that although they were all found guilty of trespassing for their actions, they say they were very happy with their legal counsel - who was none other than Sen. Floyd McKissick.  The court cost back then they say they had to pay was $10.