Everyone knows Thomas Edison and Henry Ford’s inventions, but not as many people realize they were also some of Florida’s first “snowbirds.” Long before spring breakers took over, these two spent their winters soaking up the sun in the Sunshine State, while most folks up north were shoveling snow.
Edison first landed in Fort Myers in 1885, on his doctor’s orders. The warmer climate was supposed to help his health, so he bought land along the Caloosahatchee River and built a house the next year. Ford came visiting often, mostly to see Edison, and in 1916 he ended up buying the place right next door.
Southwest Florida became their favorite retreat. Edison usually stayed in New Jersey, and Ford lived up in Michigan. During the winters, they escaped to Florida, much like the snowbirds today. Except they weren’t exactly lounging by the pool all day. They kept working while they were there…