This building was imagined and financially supported by a group of African American women who belonged to the Womans Working Band. A sub set of the Bible Band movement, the Womans Working Band raised money to support specific projects that would uplift their communities. As a member of the Bethel Baptist Church, Annie L. Shepard, Mother Shepard, was the leader among the several Women of the Band.
The House was orginially constructed as an Old Folks Home in 1921 and remained so until the 1930s. During the depression, the Building was a Works Progress Administration (WPA) Day Care Center. Then, after WWII, the Womans Working Band Donated the building to the returing African American Vets for their Post. We purchased the building in 2004 and fininshed a massive historic restoration and opened as B Sharps Jazz Club in 2008. We were nominated by the State of Florida and Listed by the US Park Service on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
This building, in this neighborhood, is evidence of the resilience of the African American Women of the Bible Band movement. These women, who found agency enough to purchase land, fund the construction of a community builidng in 1921, serves as an example for everyone who passes by on Brevard Street. Finding a way when there was "hardly a way" seems quite an achievement, and one we must honor and emulate.
We wish to honor the Womans Working Band for their contributions to their community
