After he had received an overview of the history of the Orlando area in Orange County Regional History Center, I wanted to elaborate a little more deeply into the social history of the Orlando area, and the Wells Built Museum African American History and Culture will give me a deeper look at Orlando 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 downtown is quite remarkable. As a matter of fact, the name “Division Street” points to a clear line of demarcation between black and white historic residential areas.

The origins of the Wells Built Museum date back to a local doctor in Africa by the name of Dr. William Monroe Wells who started building the well-built hotel in 1926 to provide accommodation to African Americans during the era of segregation, when there is no accommodation for them in other areas of Central Florida.

Beside the Wells’ Built was once the South Street Casino, a performance hall, which featured musicians who traveled the ‘Chitlin Circuit’ to conducting hearings around the country. The hotel opened three stores in the first floor of the hotel and the rooms on the second floor.

Dr. William Monroe Wells was one of the first black doctors Orlando 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 his money from the people of his own race. He worked hard to serve the growing African American population in Orlando. With the help of his assistant, Mrs. Josie Belle Jackson, Dr. Wells is known for having delivered over 5,000 babies in Orlando.

treatment of patients suffering from pneumonia, influenza, scarlet fever and other serious illnesses before drugs like penicillin were introduced. Dr. Wells many of the patients were extremely poor. It’s their disease, but often could not afford to pay their share. 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, who have no access to recreational facilities, good schools, police protection, health care and other services provided to citizens whites. This led him to build the South Street Casino and the hotel next door. Dr. Wells

booked bands and other big name entertainment to perform at the South Street Casino. Many famous artists that we know today played at South Street Casino within the Chitlin Circuit. Some examples of these artists are:

- Ray Charles

- BB King

– Louis Armstrong

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Guitar Slim - Bo Diddley

African Americans throughout the surrounding Orlando to shop and enjoy performances by popular musicians in 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 coaches and athletes who frequented this establishment made it one of the most popular places for African Americans in the South.

Today the museum has over 6000 square feet of display space. Preserves the original facade, a room with authentic furniture, beading and decorations of the 1930s, and also includes an interior wall reflecting important architectural elements and designs of the era. Exhibition material collected for display include: official records of hotels, one of the original League black baseball jersey, photographs, objects, books, multimedia exhibits, slave records and other items of historical significance. Dr.

So the house has been moved to the headquarters of the Casino and will be restored and open to the public. Well 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