Everglades City in Collier County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Collier County First Jail Site
Photographed by Thomas Smith, March 3, 2025
1. Collier County First Jail Site Marker
Bulit in 1923, the first Collier County jell was located on this site, the southwest corner of the Circle. It was a small, wooden structure that housed a few dozen inmates on the first floor and included living accommodations for the sheriff and his family on the upper floor. The Collier County Sheriff's Office was created on July 7, 1923, and Willem Riley "W.R." Maynard was named the first Sheriff of Collier County. Along with his wife, Chief Deputy Blanche Maynard, and one other deputy, Captain W.R. Maynard maintained law and order across the newly established 1,276,160 acres of Collier County from 1923 to 1928. In the late 1940s, the Everglades City Jail was relocated to a new building next to the old Courthouse and used until 1991 when the Sheriff's substation moved to Carnestown.
Louis J. Thorp took over after Maynard resigned in 1928 and served until his death in 1954. Chief Deputy Roy O. Atkins was appointed as Sheriff and served until E.A. Doug Hendry was elected in 1956. Sheriff Hendry hired Aubrey Rogers, who he had previously worked with at the Fort Myers Police Department, to work in the Everglades jail and eventually became Sheriff Hendry's Chief Deputy. From its original headquarters in Everglades City, the office moved to East Naples around 1962, when the county seat moved.
Erected
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Law Enforcement. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.
Location. 25° 51.432′ N, 81° 23.11′ W. Marker is in Everglades City, Florida, in Collier County. It is at the intersection of South Copeland Avenue and Broadway Avenue West, on the right when traveling south on South Copeland Avenue. In front of Captain Morgan's Seafood Grill Corp. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 102 S Copeland Ave, Everglades City FL 34139, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast and in the Everglades. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Everglades Community Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Barron G. Collier (within shouting distance of this marker); Hurricane Wilma (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Laundry Building - Everglades Women's Club (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old Collier County Courthouse (about 400 feet away); Bank of Everglades Building (about 500 feet away); Rod & Gun Club (about 700 feet away); Old Railway Depot (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Everglades City.
Photographed by Thomas Smith, March 3, 2025
2. Collier County First Jail Site Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 194 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 7, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
