Collier County FLGenWeb

Historic Smallwood Store

HISTORIC SMALLWOOD STORE
of Collier Co.,Fl.

On Chokoloskee Island, you will find one of the most historic buildings, The Ted Smallwood Store. It was built in 1906 by Charles Sherod "Ted" Smallwood, one of the areas early pioneers in Collier Co.. The building was used as a store, postoffice and an indian trading post. In 2005 the Smallwood store suffered a lot of damage from hurricane Wilma, after which it was restored much like it had been for the past 100 years. Ted Smallwood became a good friend of the local Miccosukee and Seminoles and became a good friend of Chief Tigertail. The Smallwood store is now a musium operated by the Ted Smallwood Family, when walking inside is much like taking a walk back into time, or into an old photo of the past, antiques from the early part of the century surrounds a life sized mannequin of Ted Smallwood,sitting in a rocker just like he did 60 years ago. Ted Smallwood remained the area's postmaster until he retired in 1941 and the store was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Resotration of the store as a museum was started in 1990 by the non profit Ted Smallwood Store,Inc. Book Collection at Smallwood Store This museum features an extensive collection of books, including Killing Mr. Watson, the first in a well-known trilogy of novels by author Peter Mathiessen on the story of Ed Watson, an infamous Ten Thousand Islands resident who was gunned down at the store by townspeople after rumors of murders and other ill deeds. ( Special note ) A book comtaining some of Smallwood's reminiscences. " The Story of the Chokoloskee Bay County" by Charles W.Tebeau

On Chokoloskee Island, you will find one of the most historic buildings, The Ted Smallwood Store. It was built in 1906 by Charles Sherod "Ted" Smallwood, one of the areas early pioneers in Collier Co.. The building was used as a store, postoffice and an indian trading post.

In 2005 the Smallwood store suffered a lot of damage from hurricane Wilma, after which it was restored much like it had been for the past 100 years.

Ted Smallwood became a good friend of the local Miccosukee and Seminoles and became a good friend of Chief Tigertail.

The Smallwood store is now a musium operated by the Ted Smallwood Family, when walking inside is much like taking a walk back into time, or into an old photo of the past, antiques from the early part of the century surrounds a life sized mannequin of Ted Smallwood,sitting in a rocker just like he did 60 years ago.

Ted Smallwood remained the area's postmaster until he retired in 1941 and the store was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Resotration of the store as a museum was started in 1990 by the non profit Ted Smallwood Store,Inc.

Book Collection at Smallwood Store

This museum features an extensive collection of books, including Killing Mr. Watson, the first in a

well-known trilogy of novels by author Peter Mathiessen on the story of Ed Watson, an infamous Ten Thousand Islands resident who was gunned down at the store by townspeople after rumors of murders and other ill deeds.

( Special note )
A book comtaining some of Smallwood's reminiscences.
" The Story of the Chokoloskee Bay County"
by Charles W.Tebeau

Quick Links

Contact Us

If you have questions, contributions, or problems with this site, email:

Coordinator - AVAILABLE

State Coordinator: Jeff Kemp

Asst. State Coordinator: Tricia Aanderud

Questions or Comments?

If you have questions or problems with this site, email the County Coordinator. Please to not ask for specfic research on your family. I am unable to do your personal research. I do not live in Florida and do not have access to additional records.