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| Edison Pier |
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| Edison Winter Estate |
Last night, I went with my mom & her friends to look at Christmas
lights. Growing up in Maine, it was always a pastime to go up to
Biddeford drive around & look at the lights. However, since I'm in
Florida, driving around in the snow wasn't in the cards to look at the
lights, instead my adventure took me to Ft. Myers to
Edison & Ford Winter Estates.
The estates cost $15 to get in which included access to the Estate
Museum & both the Edison & Ford Estates across the street on the
Caloosahtachee River. It's probably the only part of the city of Ft.
Myers that I actually enjoyed. It's not like Sarasota which has a good
vibe to it. The city itself doesn't really have a good vibe to it for me
& I basically go there to go to the airport (RSW, the airport code
for Ft. Myers). However, I found out last night that Edison & Ford
were very good friends. Thomas Edison purchased his property in 1885,
he made a pencil sketch of his vision that soon became a reality for
him. The lumber for the two post-and-beam houses came from Maine &
transported to Ft. Myers by ship. I noticed that the houses had a New
England architectural charm to them with huge porches & high
ceilings. The Edison family enjoyed leisurely stays at the Winter Home up until 1947 when Mina deeded
Seminole Lodge to to the City of Ft. Myers for $1.
Henry Ford purchased his property in 1916 that gave him a reason &
opportunity to holiday with his friend Thomas Edison. He only used his
house two weeks out the year. The good friends enjoyed spending time
with their families enjoying exploring Southwest Florida, fishing,
boating & dancing. Both houses are quite charming to walk around
& to explore. The gardens are very impressive with giant banyan trees, orchids & mangoes to name a few of the species.
December is a charming month to visit the estates with all of the
festive lights, Christmas trees & many decorations. Definitely an
enjoyable evening to walk around & to be all festive with lights.
