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.