Sunday Favorites: Historically Unknown Part II

The Palmetto Drive-In

The Palmetto Drive In was constructed in 1951 and owned and operated by Roy and Kathleen Jones. Located conveniently on business 41, the theater played all the latest hits. The business was a huge success, providing affordable entertainment to families from all walks of life. Because admission was paid for per vehicle, families piled as many people in their cars as they could fit.

The 1950s marked a period of segregation in many instances, but the Joneses did not discriminate, allowing all races and ethnicities to attend movies. This did not sit well with the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, which tried intimidating the owners by burning a cross on the site and putting poisonous snakes in Roy’s Cadillac, according to a personal interview with Roy and Kathleen’s grandson Tyler Pope conducted several years ago.

On Halloween night in 1958, a terrible storm rolled in and a tornado destroyed the drive in and the outer buildings where Roy and Kathleen lived. The couple lost everything – but rebuilt and expanded the operation.

On Sundays, a non-denominational, drive-in church was held with free coffee and donuts distributed to all attendees. The preacher did his sermon from a platform in front of the screen and everyone could listen in from their cars.

Although the Drive-In was demolished in 1986, Kathleen operated a new drive-in church just north of the original site of the drive in which was in operation into the 2000s.

Lincoln Memorial Academy

Prior to 1948, when segregation was still legal in the State of Florida, two secondary schools served Manatee County’s African American population: Lincoln High School in Bradenton and Memorial High School in Palmetto. The Trojan was selected as the school mascot.

Neither of the schools were suitable for learning; students studied in shabby buildings and used second-hand textbooks. The school board merged the two schools to stretch resources and increase enrollment of Palmetto residents.

When the new Lincoln Memorial High School opened In Palmetto, at the site of the current Lincoln Middle School, the residents of the area were incredibly excited. The high school became known for its academic and professional achievements. Students were required to dress meticulously with the dress code requiring boys m wear collared shirts and ties wearing ties and girls wear dresses or skirts. Lincoln was accredited by the Association of Colleges and Schools and was the pride of the black community.

Every Friday night, Palmetto residents would come to the school in support of the basketball, football or baseball team. The stadium was always packed. The prowess of the Lincoln Memorial Football team became renown throughout the State of Florida. U.S. 41 separated the football field from the high school and a tunnel was dug beneath the highway to ensure safe passage for the players.

Traveling ”through the tunnel“ before a game became a beloved ritual, allowing them to symbolically pass from a world of injustice and emerge as respected athletes on the other side. The ritual inspired the award winning documentary Through the Tunnel, which was directed by Durand Adams, Charles E. Williams and Charles Clapsaddle. The tunnel is still there today, joining Lincoln Park and Lincoln Middle School.

So if you are having a bad day and would like to feel renewed; visit Lincoln Park and emerge through the tunnelÉyou might come out the other side a completely new person!

Tune in next week as we explore more interesting, and local, history!