Obrey Wendell “Wink” Hamlet
Obrey Wendell “Wink” Hamlet
Crafting a Legacy in Hospitality During the Jim Crow Era
Obrey Wendell “Wink” Hamlet (1892-1965), an African American entrepreneur, made a significant impact in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood.
Images from: gazette.com
Here are some facts about Obrey Wendell "Wink" Hamlet:
Obrey Wendell “Wink” Hamlet (1892-1965), an African American wood, coal, and moving business
entrepreneur in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, completed the Rustic stone and wood shingle lodge about
1928, using on-site timber and stone, as well as salvaged materials brought from the city.4 The lodge stands as a testament to Hamlet’s hard work in carving out a niche in the hospitality industry during the Jim Crow era.
Obrey Hamlet was an enterprising, but not wealthy, individual. He saw an opportunity and built the lodge while working as a service station attendant in Denver.
