Thomas Edison first came to Fort Myers in 1885. He was a well-known inventor in search of a warm escape from the cold northern winters. On his first trip to Southwest Florida he purchased more than 13 acres along the Caloosahatchee River.
Edison returned to Fort Myers in 1886 with his new bride, Mina. For the next six decades the Edison family enjoyed their winter retreat, a main house called Seminole Lodge and an adjoining guest house.
In 1914, Henry and Clara Ford, along with their son Edsel, visited Fort Myers at the invitation of Thomas Edison. They enjoyed the visit so much that two years later, Ford purchased the home adjacent to the Edison Winter Estate. The two-story riverfront home was built in the Craftsman architectural style.
Ford's home is called The Mangoes. Mrs. Ford sold Seminole Lodge to the City of Fort Myers in 1947 and a subsequent owner of The Mangoes sold it to the City in 1980. Both have been open to the public since 2000.
3 comments:
What a fine bit of history to accompany your photos. Well done.
I remember touring them both and loving them, Jack.
Nice piece of history.
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