HISTORIC REMEMBRANCES
The History of Orlando’s Neighborhoods – Parramore and Winter Park
by Robin Soliz, Academic Advisor, Valencia College
B ehind the glitz and glamour of The City Beautiful lies the rich histories of African American communities flourishing in a time where success was not easily attainable. In the 1800s, White residents
Book,” which was a traveling guide for Black people to know where African American lodging, restaurants, and gas stations were while traveling through the south. Dr. Monroe Wells had other business ventures, such as duplexes he rented out to families on South Street, a gas station, and the South Street Casino. The South Street Casino served as a community center, which had a roller rink, a basketball court, and hosted parties. Today, the hotel is the Wells Built Museum, which is located at 511 W. South Street, Orlando, Florida, 32805. Dr. Monroe Wells was not only a physician and a businessman, but most importantly he was a humanitarian who wanted the residents of Parramore to feel loved and valued. Six miles up the road, another African American township was blossoming in the city of Winter Park called Hannibal Square. In 1881, Oliver Chapman and Loring A. Chase founded Hannibal Square due to the rising railroad industry. Chapman and Chase purchased eighty- four lots, which equated to about six hundred acres for “Upstanding Negro Citizens” to buy. As African Americans settled into Hannibal Square there were talks about incorporating the town. Hannibal Square citizens had to be registered voters for the incorporation to happen. To register or cast a vote Black citizens would have to cross the train tracks into the White neighborhood. Gustavus “Gus” Henderson would spearhead this vote on incorporating Hannibal Square. Mr. Henderson was an African American who taught himself how to read and write. In Hannibal Square, he was the founder of The Winter Park Advocate, which was a Black newspaper for the residents. On October 12th, 1887, Gus Henderson took Black registered voters to the polls. This was a daring move for Mr. Henderson, but much-needed to make sure he and the citizens of Hannibal Square had a seat at the table. This voters’ march would pay off as Walter B. Simpson and Frank R. Israel became Aldermen (a member
created African American townships due to employers needing domestic servants, railroad workers, orange grove workers, and other miscellaneous jobs. These African American communities gave birth to affluent Black-owned businesses, a political seat at the table, and an overall sense of Black pride. James B. Parramore was a former Orlando mayor who created the Parramore Community in 1880. Parramore residents are descendants of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Seminole Tribe, which became one of the largest African American communities in Orlando. As the township started to become home to African Americans, they started to set a blazing trail to be entrepreneurs and pillars in the community. There are numerous guiding lights that have illuminated Parramore through community activism, health care, education, and economic gain, such as C.T Williams, Henry Sadler, Mercedes Richardson Clark, and Dr. Monroe Wells. Dr. Monroe Wells was born in Fort Gaines, Georgia, in the late 1800s. He graduated from Meharry Medical College in 1914. Three years after his graduation he decided to make Orlando, Florida, his home and opened a medical practice in the Parramore Community. After residing in Orlando for a few years, he saw a greater need for the residents of Parramore and people traveling to Florida during the Jim Crow Era. In 1926, Dr. Wells gave birth to the Wells Built Hotel. The hotel had two stories, with various Black-owned businesses on the first floor and hotel rooms on the second floor. This hotel became a haven for African American musicians who were a part of the chitlin’ circuit. The Wells Built Hotel was also featured in “The Green
of the legislative body of a municipal corporation). Alderman Simpson and Alderman Israel served in these positions until 1893 and created a space where Black voices were heard. As we fast forward to 2024, there has been no elected Black official for the city of Winter Park since 1887. This has left the African American residents of Winter Park without representation on the city council and their community diminished due to gentrification. The past and present residents of Hannibal Square are resilient and thriving to keep their history alive. You can visit the Hannibal Square Heritage Center, which is located at 642 W New England Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. This is where you can see historical photos of the town and go on a guided walking tour. African Americans have always made something out of nothing, as we can see from the Parramore and Hannibal Square communities. The Black residents have constantly made an impact on The City Beautiful. As we continue to push forward to strive for greater, we must give honor and thanks to the ones who dared to be different in a time when it could have cost them their lives. We must continue to be our ancestors’ wildest dreams and continue to lay the foundation for the future generations that will come after us. Source: https://www.thehistorycenter.org/tag/parramore/ Source: https://www.thehistorycenter.org/the-wellsbuilt/ Source: https://www.wellsbuilt.org/about/ Source: https://winterparkmag.com/history/ Source: https://chdr.cah.ucf.edu/efhq/article2.html Dr. Monroe Wells, one of the first Black doctors in Orlando, Florida
RADIANTLY BLACK
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