Edison and Ford; The trendsetters of Fort Myers Journal #5

Thomas Edison is commonly known, and to many people, solely known for his work in electricity/ light bulbs. But to the people of Fort Myers, Florida, Thomas Edison and his wife Mina Edison were philanthropists, educators, and avid environmentalists.  Thomas Edison originally came to Fort Myers in search for bamboo as well as a summer home and fell in love with the 13 + acres of land right on the Caloosahatchee River known as "Seminole Lodge." At this summer home the Edison family would enjoy many of the recreational activities the Florida climate offered such as swimming in their very own swimming pool,  playing down by the river, and simply gathering on the wrap-around porch of their home. During his time in Fort Myers he decided to invite his best friend down to stay and eventually allowed a home to built on his property  for his best friend; Henry Ford.  Yes, the Henry Ford who built the Model-T.

It is said that Edison and Ford were the main reasons as to why Fort Myers became such a destination and why the city gained popularity. All around downtown Fort Myers there are dedications and buildings/businesses named after them. The most known, however, is the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. At the Edison & Ford Estates, which was donated by Mina for education of the public so that the public could see Edison's life-long work and mainly his laboratory.  At the Edison home, the public can tour the grounds and be enriched with the natural beauty and architecture Fort Myers has to offer and also offers a perfect place for weddings.

Considering I am going to school for Resort and Hospitality Management with a concentration in Event Planning, I intern at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates as a wedding coordinator. I see first hand the impact that Mr. Edison and Henry Ford had on not only SWFL but also the World as we people from all over. Thomas Edison was extremely interested in  the environment and liked to do experiments involving plants. If you have ever been to the Estates, you'll notice the huge Mysore Fig Tree located to the Caloosahatchee and also the Banyan Tree by the laboratory.

I thought it was incredibly interesting to watch the "Untold Stories of Fort Myers" videos and see/hear the different perspectives of people about the history of Fort Myers and how Edison & Ford impacted the city. It is also important to note that the townspeople did not want Edison to electrify the city due to fear of scaring the cattle. Let it be known that in the original home of Thomas Edison and on the porch, the ORIGINAL light bulbs are still intact and still work. It's amazing to think that so long ago they created such a durable and reliable appliance, but today in the 21st Century things break so easily.