Edison and Ford on the porch of Seminole Lodge
Edison, of course, is more extensively associated with his inventions. He held more than 1,000 United States patents, and submitted patent paperwork for a record 65 consecutive years. Among his lesser known creations: the talking doll, the electric train, alkaline batteries, a fruit preserver and a stencil pen, the grandfather of today's tattoo stylus. Among hundreds of items and documents in the museum is Edison's original custom Model T, a gift from Ford. A more personal artifact is the frame Edison built for the phonograph he was devising. Hard of hearing, Edison rigged the phonograph to the frame, which he would bite to feel vibrations and "hear" the music. Edison was also an avid botanist and his gardens contain more than a thousand varieties of plants from all over the world. Edison saw the gardens as an experimental bed for industrial products and imported African Sausage Trees and a 400-foot banyan tree. Over the years, Edison built light bulb filaments from bamboo and turned goldenrod into rubber. Later, Edison’s wife added roses, orchids, bromeliads, and other more traditional flora. Today, fifteen historic buildings stand in graceful repose, including the Edisons' home and guest house, a botanic research laboratory, an artesian-fed swimming pool dating to 1911, and Ford's winter home. In 1947, Mina Edison donated the property to the City of Fort Myers in the memory of her husband, and was opened for tours three years later in 1950. However, it took another four decades before the Henry Ford estate was purchased and opened to the public for tours. In 2003, a non-profit was established - the Thomas Edison & Henry Ford Winter Estates - in order to protect and preserve the sites. Today, it is the most popular historic attraction in southwest Florida and looks exactly as it did back in Edison’s lifetime.
Small wooden bridge to the pier on the Caloosahatchee River which the Edison used to bring building materials from barges to construct the Estates, which at one time was outfitted with boathouses, benches, and a summerhouse
The recently restored Caretakers House is the oldest structure on the property and was used by various estate workers during the time Edison wintered in Fort Myers
The restored garage beside the Caretakers House decorated with garlands and bows
for the Christmas season
Edison's pool was constructed in 1910 and now reflects the 1928 remodel with addition of an adjacent Tea and Bath House used by both families in the hot humid Florida months
Towering palms and flowering shrubs blanket the property
The Thomas Edison Main House originally included a kitchen and dining room in the north wing,
but in 1906 the Edison's had this part of the house remodeled to serve as family bedroom suites, and now includes a Library, Study and Edison's Den
Thomas and Mina Edison's bedroom
The Edison House Den with doors opening onto the wrap-around porch
with views overlooking the Bay
The Edison Guest House
Flowering shrubs beside the Ford House porch
Enormous bromeliad
The tiny kitchen in the Guest House
The adjacent Dining Room set for Christmas Dinner
The Edison Estate comprised of 2 houses sits beside The Mangoes, the property Henry Ford bought in 1916 providing him the opportunity to vacation with Thomas Edison
The Mangoes — The Henry Ford Estate
The Main Room in the Ford House
The Ford's Bedroom
The Guest Room
Ford's vintage garage with one of his original Model-T's
The enormous Mysore Fig Tree between the Ford Estate and Caloosahatchee River
Fresh pomellos growing on the property
Edison's Laboratory looks just like it did during his time
Attached to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates is Pinchers,
a casual seafood restaurant overlooking the Marina
Pinchers menu
Pinchers overlooking the Marina at Edison Ford
An iced cold Margarita
Red Sangria garnished with a slice of orange, lime and a Maraschino cherry
Conch Fritters appetizer
Plump, hot and quite yummy
Grilled Grouper Tacos topped with a touch of chipotle aioli, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and served with a side of coleslaw and french fries
Jumbo Lump Crab Cake
Pinchers Fish and Chips served with a side of coleslaw
Pinchers Crab Cakes
Makes 8 cakes
1/2 cup finely diced celery
1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion
2 large eggs, well beaten
1 lb lump crabmeat
1 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard
3 tbsp yellow mustard
1 1/2 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 tsp parsley
1 1/2 tsp Old Bay
4 tbsp butter
1 1/2 cups crushed unsalted Saltine crackers
Sauté the celery and onions in butter until soft, then drain the excess butter and chill. In a mixing bowl, add the yellow mustard, Dijon mustard, and well-beaten eggs, black pepper, parsley and Old Bay and mix well. Add the chilled onion and celery to mixing bowl and mix well, then slowly mix in the crushed crackers.
Pour the fresh picked crabmeat onto a plate and sift through checking for shell fragments but be careful enough to not break up the meat. Place the crabmeat into the mixing bowl and gently fold the stuffing around the crabmeat, avoiding breaking up the meat as much as possible. Form the mixture into patties 4 oz patties and sauté in butter until lightly browned on both sides and serve with tartar sauce or chipotle mayonnaise.
