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Monday, November 28, 2005
An Orlando Jewel: The Wells Built Museum
of African American History and Culture
After I had received a general overview of the history of the Orlando area in the Orange
County Regional History Center, I wanted to delve a little deeper
into the social history of the Orlando area, and the Wells
Built Museum of African American History and Culture was going
to give me a more in-depth look into Orlando's African American
history.
To this day this area west of I-4 is primarily inhabited by African
Americans and the difference in housing and facilities between this
area and the downtown area is quite notable. As a matter of fact,
the very name "Division Street" points to a distinct historical
line of demarcation between black and white residential areas.
The origins of the Wells Built Museum date back to a prominent
local African physician by the name of Dr. William Monroe Wells
who started building the Well's Built Hotel in 1926 to provide lodging
to African Americans during an era of segregation when accommodations
were not available to them in other areas of Central Florida.
Next door to the Wells' Built was once the South Street Casino,
a performance hall, which featured musicians that traveled the 'Chitlin
Circuit' performing for audiences all over the country. The hotel
opened with three storefronts on the first floor and hotel rooms
on the second floor.
Dr. William Monroe Wells was one of Orlando's first black physicians
and came to the area in 1917. Born in Ft. Gaines, Georgia, in 1889,
Dr. Wells completed his medical training at Meharry Medical College.
During part of WWII, Dr. William Monroe Wells was the only African
American physician in Orlando.
During segregation, white physicians did not treat African American
patients. African American doctors, therefore, earned their money
from people of their own race. He worked very hard to serve the
growing African American population in Orlando. With the help of
his assistant, Mrs. Josie Belle Jackson, Dr. Wells is known to have
delivered over 5,000 babies in Orlando.
He treated patients who suffered from pneumonia, influenza, scarlet
fever and other serious illnesses before drugs like penicillin were
introduced. Many of Dr. Wells' patients were extremely poor. He
treated their illnesses though they many times could not afford
to pay his fee. This allowed them to speak forcefully against poor
conditions that existed in the African American community without
fear of losing their livelihood.
Although African Americans were taxpayers like other residents
of Orlando, they did not have access to recreational facilities,
good schools, police protection, health care and other services
that were provided to white citizens. This led him to build the
South Street Casino and the hotel next door.
Dr. Wells booked bands and other big name entertainers to perform
at the South Street Casino. Many famous performers that we know
today played at South Street Casino within the Chitlin Circuit.
A few examples of these performers are:
- Ray Charles
- B.B. King
- Louis Armstrong
- Guitar Slim
- Bo Diddley
African Americans came from all over the surrounding areas to Orlando to shop and take in performances of popular musicians at the South
Street Casino. After the performances at the casino, the artists
checked in at the historic Wells' Built Hotel. In its heyday, the
Wells' Built provided lodging for clientele such as Pegleg Bates,
Ella Fitzgerald, Roy Campenella, Thurgood Marshall, and Jackie Robinson.
The entertainers and athletes who frequented this establishment
made it one of the most popular venues for African Americans in
the South.
Today the museum features over 6,000 square feet of display space.
It retains the original hotel facade, a guestroom featuring authentic
furniture, beading and decorations of the 1930's, and also bears
an original interior wall reflecting important architectural elements
and designs unique to the period. Exhibition material collected
for display include: official hotel documents, an original Negro
League baseball jersey, photographs, artifacts, books, multi-media
exhibits, slave records and other items of historic significance.
Dr. Well's home has been moved to the site of the Casino and will
be restored and opened to the public. The
Well's Built Museum of African American Culture and History
is located just west of I-4 near Church Street at 511 West South
Street, Orlando 32801, tel. (407) 245-7535.
Orlando and Central Florida travel stories:
Orlando Off the Beaten
Path
A visit to the Orange
County Regional History Center
Exploring Orlando's African
American Heritage at the Well's Built Museum
A lovely evening walk around downtown
Orlando's Lake Eola
Visual delights served
up on the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour
A walking tour through quaint
historic Winter Park
Our high-speed adrenaline adventure
at Boggy Creek Airboat Tours
Our picnic lunch by the Kissimmee
waterfront
Exploring picturesque Mount Dora
on the "Herbie Express"
Orlando's Loch Haven Park:
Center of culture and arts
Exploring downtown Orlando's
historic neighbourhoods and parks
Learning about citrus at
Florida's Natural Visitor Center
Architectural and natural
beauty at the Bok Historic Sanctuary
Central Florida: a haven
for naturalists and plant lovers
Central Florida's wildlife:
surprising ecological diversity..
Driving home through St. Augustine:
the oldest city in the US
Articles on Golf in Central Florida:
A first-hand
look at ChampionsGate
A first-hand look at the
Royal St. Cloud Links
A first-hand look at Timacuan
Golf and Country Club
Attending the Father
Son Challenge at ChampionsGate
An overview of golf in the Orlando area:
Orlando- Golf's Ultimate Theme Park
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