The Edison-Ford Winter Estates

Fort Myers, FL

January 02, 2002

As we travel, looking for the stories that make this country the great place that it is, we sometime come across an additional chapter to a story we had previously written. Such was the case with the great Indian Chief Sitting Bull which we followed in additional stories from the Little Big Horn, to his stay in Canada, then again for his days riding in a Wild West Show with Buffalo Bill Cody. Now again, we had an opportunity to continue the story of a famous American. We first wrote about Thomas Edison as a boy in Port Huron, MI., when he worked on a train selling papers and experimenting with things. We later found a place where he had stayed in Canada. Now we had arrived at the summer home he used in his later years. Thomas Edison's relationship with Fort Myers, FL., began in 1885 when he and his business partner Ezra Gilliland arrived in town. The next day, they both decided to purchase land and chose property adjacent to the Caloosahatchee River. They constructed two identical homes and Edison installed a small electrical laboratory. The following year Edison brought his new bride, Mina Miller Edison to the town for their honeymoon. Three days later they moved into the completed summer home they now called the Seminole Lodge. Unfortunately troubles developed between Edison and Gilliland and Edison stayed away the next winter. In 1896, his path would cross yet another famous American. At a convention of the Association of Edison Illuminating companies, a young aggressive inventor named Henry Ford so impressed Edison with his newly designed gas powered horseless carriage that they quickly became good friends. Edison returned to Florida, having broken his relationship with Gilliland, was able to purchase the Gilliland house in 1906. He converted it into a guest house. Although best known for his work in electricity, Edison was also an accomplished botanist. In 1907 he offered to plant Royal Palm trees along Riverside Avenue. Fort Myers gladly accepted. In 1914, another life long friend joined the Edisons. Well known naturalist John Burroughs became a regular fixture at the winter home. That same year, the Ford family arrived and along with Burroughs, the two took extended camping trips into the Everglades. By 1916, Ford arranged to purchase a home adjacent to the Edison's which he called Mangoes.

Many enjoyable evenings were spent on the expanded verandahs discussing inventions and the world in general. In this time period, yet another famous American joined the group. Harvey Firestone became friends with both, and soon the three were actively discussing the economy of the nation. 1918 saw the end of the First World War during which, knowledge that world economy could be drastically interrupted had been driven home. This was of serious concern for both Ford, who needed rubber tires, and Firestone who produced them. There was no rubber to be had in the U.S. Edison became fascinated by the challenge to produce rubber from products available in the U.S. To this end he created the Edison Botanic Research Corporation as an institute to find a suitable replacement for the South American, and Asian product. Convinced that rubber could be produced from other than rubber trees, Edison began importing hundreds of trees which he systematically planted around his winter home. Most of these trees are still growing in their original locations. In 1925, Harvey Firestone, looking for an unusual gift, gave Edison a Banyan Tree. This spreading plant sends out streamers from its upper branches which, when coming in contact with the ground form another tree trunk. The tree still stands at the entrance to the Estate and now covers some 400 feet in circumference. Edison would eventually develop a rubber product from of all things, the Goldenrod plant. By developing hybrids, he was able to produce a plant that was over 12 feet high. Even so, technology had passed him by. By the time he had perfected the process, a cheaper, more efficient product had been created elsewhere and Edison's process never saw production. In 1929, President-elect Hoover attended Edison's birthday, along with his old friends, Harvey Firestone and Henry Ford. It would be his last great meeting. Edison died in October of 1931. His wife donated Seminole Lodge to the City of Fort Myers. The city would later purchase the Ford home next door, restoring both building to their original glory. The houses and grounds are spectacular but access is restricted. Guide led groups are taken along the paths to the various homes. Leaving the path is not permitted even to get a close up picture of one of the strange and beautiful trees or flowers. The houses are closed to all. The wide verandahs are as close as you get. Pictures are taken through the outer windows. The guide was good, keeping up a running commentary on life as it was for the Edisons and Fords. The old cars are immaculately preserved. The only access to a building came with the tour of the Edison's old laboratory which contained many of the neat inventions credited to him. The museum at the visitors center is, of course, open to all. Here we found a docent in the portrayal of Harvey Freestone giving instructions on how best to care for the tires on your automobile. The Museum contained more memorabilia and lots of old photographs of the men and the times. The attraction is great for the common visitor, and promises to be quite frustrating to horticulturists. The story line is a great one and of course a wonderful piece of American history.

For more information about this adventure check out www.edison-ford-estate.com

*** THE END ***

     <<<<< Back             Next >>>>>