Ted Smallwood's Store was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It remained open and active until 1982. When the doors were shut, 90% of the original goods remained in the store.
In 1989 Ted's granddaughter reopened the store as a museum, and today it serves as a time capsule of Florida pioneer history. The center section of the building remains as Ted would have known it. A mannequin of Ted can be seen relaxing in his chair and his photograph is in the background.
I really enjoyed our visit and I just have to tell you four interesting things I learned:
- that the wooden counters are slanted in at the floor to accommodate hoop skirts
- that in 1984 two-thirds of the adult male population of Everglades City was jailed for trafficking in marijuana
- that the first Coke machine came to town in 1945 at Smallwood's which had the only electricity for 30 miles
- that suspected serial killer Ed Watson sought refuge from the law in the 10,000 Islands and was later killed at Smallwood's
Happy Hump Day and I'll chat with you tomorrow!