The Edison House in Ft. Myers

Thomas Alva Edison is probably the world's most prolific and famous inventor.  Without his development of the electric light bulb, we would still be watching television by candle light. (That's a joke folks!) He is credited with over 1000 United States patents.  These include the phonograph, the movie camera and many other items we take for granted everyday in our lives.

This "wizard of Menlo Park," New Jersey also was an important part of the development of Southwestern Florida, specifically, the area around Ft. Myers. For many years, he had a winter home in Ft. Myers.  Today, that winter home and that of his neighbor and good friend, Henry Ford, are available for touring.  Located on McGregor Blvd. along the Caloosatchee River, the area once had been cattle country. The two adjacent houses sit on lovely estates filled with botanical wonders..

Some of these plants were grown as part of Edison's efforts to find a proper filament element for the light bulb. Others, were grown to support research in providing a source of natural rubber as part of a corporation formed by Edison, Ford and Harvey Firestone, who also was a neighbor in Ft, Myers. Finally, others are grown for their beauty.One of these is a banyan tree given to Edison in 1925 by Harvey Firestone.  At the time it was only 4 feet tall.  Today, it fills a complete acre!

Both the Edison and Ford houses are plain, simple buildings in the bungalow style. When we first toured the estates in 1983, one of Edison's original light bulbs still glowed brightly.Recent, we toured the estate again and it was no longer there. In addition to the houses, there is a lab where Edison and his associates conducted the experiments to find a domestic source of rubber.

One of the highlights of the Ford estate is a shed where two vintage Ford vehicles are displayed, a Model T and a pick-up truck.The tour guide explained that the term "pick-up" referred to the fact that if you purchased the truck, you had to "pick it up" at the railroad station and take it home where you had to complete its building by using the wood packaging in which the truck came as part of the running board and frame.  The "woody" was born!

After the death of Edison's second wife, Mina, the Edison estate was donated to the city of Ft, Myers for the express purpose of opening it to the public.It is available for touring daily. For more information, contact the estate at www.edisonfordwinterestates.org.

The Boomer's Guide to the Roosevelt Homes: Val-Kil

Located about two miles from the Roosevelt estate, Springwood, is the fieldstone retreat of Eleanor Roosevelt, Val-Kil.  Loosely translated, Val-Kil means waterfall stream. FDR had the cottage built in 1924 for Eleanor and her two friends, Nancy Cook and Marion Dickerman.  Val-Kil is a National Historic Site run by the National Park Service. Unlike FDR's retreat, Top Cottage, Val-Kil is accessible by private automobile or the Roosevelt Ride shuttle. As a National Historic Site, you may use your Senior Pass.

Tours of Val-Kil are offered on the hour.  Before the tour begins, be sure to see the short, 15 minute video shown in one of the adjacent buildings. It provides an interesting and informative background for the woman known as the "First Lady of the World."

Although it was a retreat for Mrs. Roosevelt and her female friends, FDR frequently visited as well. Often he would drive his specially outfitted Ford convertible up the dirt road known as the Roosevelt Farm Lane to Val-Kil. 

In addition to being a restful retreat for Mrs. Roosevelt, Val-Kil was also the site of a business operated by Mrs. Roosevelt and her friends known as Val-Kil Industries.  Craftsmen were hired to make small furniture and other decorative items. Today, some of them are reputed to be quite valuable.

Val-Kil was simply decorated and much of the original furniture is in place, particularly in the modest dining room.

If you are interested in more information about Val-Kil, Springwood, Top Cottage or Hyde Park, visit www.HistoricHydePark.org or phone 1-800-FDR-VISIT.

R9XQU3VMWC5T