Edison & Ford Winter Estates Blog

Media Release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chris Pendleton, President & CEO
Lisa Sbuttoni, PR/Marketing Director
293-334-7419

Edison & Ford Winter Estates Celebrates Memorial Day with Free Admission to Veterans

Fort Myers, Florida (May 25, 2012)– The Edison & Ford Winter Estates will honor veterans and their families with FREE ADMISSION on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28  from 9 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.  The annual event includes free admission for a self guided tour and veterans will receive a discount on items in the Museum Stores.  Active military are admitted FREE to Edison Ford year round.

Veterans will enjoy seeing the winter homes and gardens of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, their botanical laboratory, antique car collections and hundreds of inventions in the Edison Ford Museum.  Gallery demonstrations and continuous showing of films are also included in a Museum visit.
Veterans must present a VA identification card or their DD214 papers to receive free admission. Current servicemen and women may also gain free admission by presenting an active military ID.

In addition, a United States Navy “memorial table” has been recreated to honor those service men and women who are POW’s, MIAs and those who lost their lives in service.  The “memorial table” is smaller, honoring prisoners of war who stood alone and includes:

• A white tablecloth representing the purity of a soldier’s response to our country’s call
• An empty chair depicting an unknown face, representing no specific Soldier, Sailor, Marine or Airman, but all who are not here with us.
• The smaller table is round to show that concern for soldiers is never ending.
• A black napkin representing the emptiness the soldiers have left in the hearts of their families and friends.
• A single red rose reminding Americans of their families and loved ones; and a red ribbon representing the love of country, which inspired soldiers to answer the nation’s call.
• A yellow candle and yellow ribbon symbolizing the everlasting hope for a joyous reunion with those yet unaccounted for.
• Slices of lemon on a bread plate reminding us of bitter fate.
• Salt on the bread plate representing the tears of their families.
• A wine glass turned upside down reminding us that our distinguished soldiers cannot be with their friends and family to drink a toast.

Join the Edison Ford in honoring servicemen and women on Memorial Day.

The Edison Ford is open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Edison Ford is the winner of the 2009 National Stewardship Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures” at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. For additional information call 239-334-7419 or visit the web site at www.edisonfordwinterestates.org.

Media Release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chris Pendleton, President & CEO
Lisa Sbuttoni, PR/Marketing Director
293-334-7419
Photo:  Children’s Tree Trail, decorated by Lee County students, is open nightly and is free to the public

What:  Edison & Ford Holiday Nights 2012
When:  December 1 – December 30
Where:  Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL

Fort Myers, FL(May 14, 2012) The 37^thannual Edison & Ford Holiday Nights at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Florida, has been scheduled for December 1 – December 30. Late last year the event was chosen as one of the Top 100 Events in the nation by the American Bus Association and earlier this month was selected as one of Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for the month of December.

During the holidays the homes and gardens of Thomas and Mina Edison and Henry and Clara Ford will be seasonally decorated and visitors will have the option of a self guided tour or a guided tour with an Edison Ford site historian (6 and 7 p.m.). For the month long event, the site remains open until 9 p.m. with beautifully decorated historic buildings and gardens and millions of colored lights.

Edison & Ford Holiday Nights includes nightly entertainment by school and community groups, book signings and appearances by artists, and the “Children’s Tree Trail” a forest of trees decorated by Lee County Students. The Edison Ford Museum and Edison Botanic Research Lab will also be open during the event.

Tickets for a self guided tour are $15 for adults and $1 for children (6 -12); guided tours are $20 for adults and $1 for children (6 -12).  Groups may schedule guided or unguided tours from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. and will receive a discounted group rate.
The Edison Ford is open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Edison Ford is the winner of the 2009 National Stewardship Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures” at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. For additional information call 239-334-7419 or visit the web site at www.edisonfordwinterestates.org.

Chris Pendleton, President & CEO

With the completion of the three-year restoration of the Edison Botanic Laboratory building, I receive lots of questions about ‘what’s next?’  Although we have completed almost $14 million in restoration and improvements during the past decade, we are not finished yet!

The area surrounding the Laboratory will continue to be developed and restored back to the original research gardens, propagating nursery, and experimental areas for green science – Edison Ford style.

Our organic garden on Larchmont Avenue is already very productive with crops of old fashioned heritage beans, lettuce, tomatoes and towering golden sunflowers. The garden is tended by our dedicated group of volunteers (including some UF Master Gardeners) and staff horticulturalists. It is a great spot to drop by for ideas and information about organic garden products (soil amendments from ‘worm poop,’ crab shell and sludge), irrigation drip systems, hydroponics and container gardening, and new varieties of old fashioned Florida favorites such as mangoes, bananas, citrus and other fruit trees. The popularity of this project continues to grow with our regular talks on FOX4 Morning Blend, monthly garden lectures on Saturdays and the new weekly Garden & Estates Tours on Tuesdays.

We are also not finished with site development and completion of the Master Plan. With building restoration completed, and the administrative trailer complex on Larchmont Avenue and McGregor Blvd. removed, staff offices have been relocated to buildings on Larchmont and plans are underway for the new Edison Ford Education & Innovation Center which will connect to the Museum with covered porches and walkways through the garden. This year, we will move forward with preparation of the garden and more classes in this area as we continue to overflow the classrooms in the Edison Caretaker’s House and Museum areas.

We have learned that we are both a visitor attraction as well as a community resource for programs and activities in science, history and the arts. We are also an important part of the school curriculum for both traditional education formats in the schools as well as our homeschool program and preschool activities. We are also part of the national Elderhostel program, teacher in-service and learning opportunities for not only the Edison Ford volunteers but also volunteers from our schools and colleges. Classroom, activity and teaching areas will continue to be at a premium and very important to us.

Our Five Year Report (out this summer) will track our progress and plans for the future. I look forward to sharing it with you as we continue to move Edison Ford into the new millennium!

Helen Hendry with Edison Ford President & CEO Chris Pendleton

Stories of the Past, an oral history of Edison Ford began in April with the premier of the exhibit  “Helen Hendry, Florida Landscape Architect and Horticulturist”.  Throughout her career, Helen took part in many significant landscaping projects including the Edison & Ford Winter Estates and is one of the nation’s leading experts on South Florida plants.  She and the Hendry family created new varieties of bougainvillea and developed the Jim Henry Hibiscus, one of the most popular selling plants today.

Helen’s collected memoirs and historical photos have been captured in a 30 minute video that is available for viewing in the Edison Caretaker’s House until May 14.  The Edison Ford is collecting oral histories of involved residents to preserve the history of the Edison and Ford family legacies.  These oral histories will be preserved in Edison Ford archives and will be available for viewing upon request.

Helen Hendry with Berne Davis

Plans are underway to collect the recorded history of Berne Davis, resident, community leader and friend of Mina Edison.

If you would like to contribute a tax exempt gift to provide funding for the Oral History Project contact the Edison & Ford Winter Estates at 239-334-7419.

The Edison & Ford Winter Estates is one of the top ten most visited historic home sites in the nation and there are several ways to experience the tropical estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.  With nearly 25 acres of historic buildings and dazzling old fashioned gardens, a Museum of artifacts and inventions and the Edison Botanic Research Laboratory,  there is always something new to discover at the Edison Ford whether you are a first time visitor, or a seasoned Edison expert.

EVERYDAY TOURS

• The Historian Led Guided Tours include homes, gardens, Lab and Museum of the Edison and Ford families. Guided tours begin every hour, on the hour, and are led by Edison Ford Site Historians.
• The Complete Estates Audio Tour includes homes, gardens, Lab and Museum of the Edison and Ford families.  Tours are available in English, German, French and Spanish.  Audio tours begins every 15 minutes and orientation  includes an introduction to the site and instruction on using audio wands.
• The Edison Ford Museum and Lab Tour includes the newly restored Edison Botanic Research Laboratory as well as the Edison Ford Museum.  Current Museum Galleries include, “Into the Wild: Camping Adventures with Edison, Ford and Friends;” The  Smithsonian Institute’s  “Edison After Forty;” “Music Movies and Dance;” and much more. With the restoration completed in the Edison Botanic Research Laboratory new areas have opened to the public.
• Edison Phonograph Demonstrations every hour, on the half hour.

 SATURDAYS, 11:00 AM

• The Edison Ford Young Inventor’s Tour is a fun, hands-on program for kids and families that includes building a Model T, making polymer, demonstrations on the Edison phonograph as well as the progression of the light bulb.

TUESDAYS, 10:30 AM

• The Edison Ford Garden Tour is led by Edison Ford Horticulturists and includes practical home gardening, historic garden tips from the Edison and Ford families, and tour of the new organic garden areas, propagating nursery, Edison Ford Garden Shoppe, and nearly 25 acres of historic gardens and homes on the river.

WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 11: 00 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM

• River Cruises include the Complete Estates Audio Tour of the Edison Ford, lunch overlooking the river at the Royal Palm Yacht Club and cruise of the Caloosahatchee River with Captiva Cruises.

THURSDAYS, 10:30 AM

• The Behind the Scenes Tour is an up close look inside the Edison and Ford homes led by Curatorial staff and also includes time in the gardens, Botanical Research Laboratory and Edison Ford Museum.

Group Tours Any Day of the Week with Reservations

• Groups of 15 or more can schedule Edison Ford Young Inventor’s Tours, Edison Ford Garden Tours, River Cruises and Behind the Scenes Tours anytime during the week with advance notice.
• Groups of 20 or more will receive discount admission for group tours and can also make arrangements for lunch on the property

MEMBERSHIP

• Purchase an Edison Ford Membership and receive FREE admission on certain tours. Membership benefits also include unlimited visits to the Edison Ford as well as free and/or discounted admission to more than 600 reciprocal museums and gardens throughout the nation, discounts on classes, summer camp and special events, as well as 10% discount in the Edison Ford Museum Store, Garden Shoppe and Ford Cottage Shoppe.

Hand made pottery by local artist, Augusta Crane is available for purchase in the Edison Ford Shoppes.

The Edison Ford Museum Store, Ford Cottage Shoppe and Garden Shoppe have a variety of gift items for every Mom this Mother’s Day.

Orchids, herb baskets, plants, flowers and garden items are available at the Edison Ford Garden Shoppe.

Handmade and amber jewelry, Sanibel soaps, sun hats and original artwork from local artists like Augusta Crane, Leoma Lovegrove, Marie Dyer and other Florida artists are available in the Museum Store and Ford Cottage Shoppe.

Edison Ford Gift Memberships last ALL YEAR LONG and include unlimited visits to the Edison Ford as well as free and/or discounted admission to over 600 reciprocal museums and gardens throughout the nation.  Edison Ford Members receive a 10% discount in all Edison Ford retail shops.

Edison Ford volunteers were honored by staff and trustees at the Annual Appreciation Ceremony at the Royal Palm Yacht Club on April 10, 2012.  Last year, volunteers contributed time and services valued at $480,000.

Congratulations and thank you to the following volunteers who achieved milestone hours of service:

●  More than 4,000 hours: Gary J. Bishop

●  2,500 hours: LeRoy Moore, Nancy Owens

●  2,000 hours: Clara Schmidt, Mary Ann Sedlock

●  1,500 hours: Karen Coleman, Dick Dutton, Helen Park

●  1,000 hours: Phyllis Bickerstaff, Debbie Brandt, Jamie MaGirl, Bob Slifka, Alcy Truillo

●  750 hours: Pedro Correa, Carl Horner, Jan MaGirl, Dolores Russell

●  500 hours: Aldy Barclay, Anne Brown, Phyllis Catron, David Cornell, Janet Cornell, Lina Jakub, Donna Johnson, Wilma Miller, Sue Monteleone, James Owens, Trudie Prevatt, Frances Wright

To learn more about volunteering at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, visit us online at www.edisonfordwinterestates.org.

Media Release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chris Pendleton, President & CEO
Lisa Sbuttoni, PR/Marketing Director
293-334-7419
Photo:  New summer river cruises from Edison Ford include tour of homes, gardens, lab and museum; lunch at private club; and historian led river cruise

Fort Myers, FL(April 16, 2012) – Beginning April 25, the Edison & Ford Winter Estates will team up with Captiva Cruises and the Royal Palm Yacht Club to offer short cruises of the Caloosahatchee, tours of Edison Ford and lunch at the Royal Palm Yacht Club.  The new package program will be available throughout the day every Wednesday and Thursday and on other days for prescheduled groups with special reservations.  Cruises depart at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Edison Ford officials feel that this is a great way to learn about the ecology and history of the river that the Edison and Ford families loved so much, explored and fished. Thomas Edison so loved the Caloosahatchee, River of the Calusa, he purchased 15 acres and built Seminole Lodge, his stunning winter estate facing the river in 1886.  He also built an 1,800 foot long wood pier  with entertaining areas and boathouses for his electric launch, the Reliance.

The original Edison historic electric launch was a twenty-four foot long flat-bottom river touring vessel which was powered by Edison Batteries (of course) and charged in the station in his boathouse.  It met the need of his growing family and visitors and was complete with stylish wicker furniture.  Over the years, the electric launch would take Edison, his wife Mina, their family, friends and visiting dignitaries on many exploration trips during their long vacations in Southwest Florida.

Today, visitors to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates will also tour the Caloosahatchee on a modern flat-bottom vessel complete with awnings and the same leisurely travel agenda.   The river cruises are a great way to experience the history of this important river and the ecology and environmental importance to Southwest Florida.

The cost of the program is Edison Ford Members: adults $30 children 12 and under $25; non members:  adults $45, children 12 and under $30 and includes an audio tour of the Edison Ford homes, gardens, lab and museum; buffet lunch at the private Royal Palm Yacht Club overlooking the estates and river; and historian led boat cruise of the Caloosahatchee River.  Visitors may purchase the tours and lunch separately:  audio tour of the Edison Ford, Members FREE, non members adults $20, children 12 and under $11; lunch at the Royal Palm Yacht Club, $20; River cruise adults $20, children 12 and under $15.

Contact Edison Ford for cruise times, ticket information, lunch and tour options and also to arrange special times and dates for group reservations.  The Edison Ford Winter Estates is open daily from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.  For more information about the site, visit the website at www.edisonfordwinterestates.org. The Edison Ford is open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Edison Ford is the winner of the 2009 National Stewardship Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures” at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. For additional information call 239-334-7419 or visit the web site at www.edisonfordwinterestates.org.

Chris Pendleton, President & CEO

We are just finishing up a very busy six months at Edison Ford with the grand opening of the restoration of the Edison Botanic Research Lab and recording breaking crowds for tours and programs for the period.  In fact, most  days, we used all of our available parking and any areas nearby for visitor parking and group buses.

As we complete six years as a non-profit corporation and more than a decade in our transition from management by the City of Fort Myers to the new corporation, the evidence is clear that new programs, visitor growth, and award restoration are attracting a more diverse and larger audience from all over the world.

Our local community programs are also growing, too, as we include more ways for our residents to join in special activities and exhibits.  For example, the recent Black Maria Film Festival of award winning short films attracted 150 participants who enjoyed the riverside film venue, and the annual Antique Car and Boat Show brought in a record breaking 147 cars and boats and record breaking crowds.

This month, we begin a project to celebrate the people who have contributed special talents to the Edison Ford over the years.  The project includes an oral history video program as well as an exhibit of life accomplishments.  Our first honoree will be Helen Hendry, Edison Ford Trustee, Florida Landscape Architect, and longtime area resident.  Her recent project was the completion of the new landscape median which includes the Helen Johnson (Hendry) Bougainvillea but her impact at the Edison Ford and throughout Southwest Florida is very broad and impressive.

As the school year draws to a close, I am especially proud to single out the accomplishments of our Education Department as they teach and integrate science, engineering, math and the arts in the schools and here at the Edison Ford.  They have been a leader in the county-wide STEM education program through the unique hands-on science teaching of The Wild Wizard and Edison Muckers, they won the Edison Festival of Light Parade with Lee County High Tech Central and they have grown the Homeschool Program to reach more than 120 families monthly.  As we head into our 7th Annual Inventor’s Summer Camp, I want to congratulate them, encourage them and help to provide the teaching areas and resources that are making our overall program truly unique.

Into the Wild: Edison, Ford & Friends has been selected for national distribution to more than 350 public television stations across the nation.  The half-hour documentary produced by WGCU-TV brings to life the annual camping excursions of three famous American legends – Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and John Burroughs – that began with a 1914 trek into the Everglades.  The initial campfire camaraderie inspired a series of camping trips throughout the eastern United States for the next 10 years, providing the renowned trio with relaxation, exploration and a chance to get in touch with the American public.

Award-winning, Naples-based researcher, writer and producer Lynne Howard Frazier, produced Into the Wild for WGCU, and it premiered in April 2011 in Southwest Florida.  It follows two other documentaries WGCU has produced on America’s most famous inventor.  Untold Stories: Edison’s Quest for Rubber explores Edison’s search for a sustainable source of rubber through botanical research at his Fort Myers laboratory.  Untold Stories: The Wizard’s Wife examines how Mina Edison played the role of community leader during the family’s seasonal stays in Southwest Florida.

“It’s one of the first history programs that goes beyond our region, but is still focused on Thomas Edison,” say WGCU Executive Producer Barbara Linstrom.  “It’s a great example of the partnership we’ve developed with the Edison & Ford Winter Estates.  We couldn’t have produced such a quality program without their assistance, including the archival footage we were able to obtain.”

Into the Wild was approved by a majority vote of subscribers of American Public Television, a leading distributor of high-quality, top-rated programming to America’s public television stations since 1961.  Into the Wild is slated for national release in May and 359 stations in the public television system will have three years to run the documentary in their market.

“It’s a great opportunity to share Southwest Florida’s rich history with the rest of the country,” say Linstrom.

Several other documentaries produced as part of WGCU’s “Untold Stories” history series have been distributed nationally in recent years, including: The Unconquered Seminoles; Protecting Paradise: The Western Everglades; Edge of the Everglades: Big Cypress National Preserve; The Wizard’s Wife; and First Pitch.

Into the Wild: Edison, Ford & Friends airs Monday, April 9 at 10:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 29 at 11:30 p.m. on WGCUHDTV 30.1/Cable 3 and 440.

If you miss the episode, copies of the program are available for purchase in the Edison Ford Museum Store or on-line at www.edisonfordwinterestates.org.

Related post: Into the Wild: The Camping Adventures of Edison, Ford, and Friends