Thomas Edison’s Caretaker’s House

Thomas Edison’s Caretaker’s House. Edison and Ford Winter Estates. , A Classic Florida Cracker House , The center section of the Caretaker's House was the only structure on the grounds when Edison purchased the property from cattle baron Samuel Summerlin in 1885. The cracker-style house was built on property straddling a cattle trail called Wire Road, known as McGregor Boulevard today. This building is one of the oldest standing structures in Fort Myers. , , Samuel Summerlin, Cattle Baron , Samuel Summerlin was the youngest son of Jacob Summerlin, owner of one of the largest herds of cattle in the state. In the early 1860's, Samuel constructed a crude road from Fort Ogden to Punta Rassa. There, he built shipping pens and a dock which was used to ship Florida cattle to Cuba and import commodities such as flour and sugar. , , Summerlins in Southwest Florida , In 1878, Jacob Summerlin purchased a wharf and related facilities at Punta Rassa from Captain F. A. Hendry, as well as 1,000 acres of land for cattle holding and moved to the site with his son Samuel. By 1880, Jacob was one of the foremost figures in the Florida Cattle industry. In 1883, the Spanish Government placed a high tariff on imported beef. Jacob decided to sell all of his South Florida holdings to several of his sons, including Samuel. , , The Property Changes Hands , As part of Samuel's expanded cattle-related holdings in the area, he purchased the section of land he eventually sold to Thomas Edison from Francisco Abril in June of 1879 for $500. Edison purchased the property six years later for $2,750, demonstrating the increase in value of the property. The cracker house built on the estates is believed to have been erected in the early 1880's. , , Changing Uses , From the outset, Edison planned to retain the cracker house as a part of his Fort Myers estate. He was prepared to move it if necessary, but was eventually able to repair the home and utilize it as a year-round home for his caretaker. In 1903, Edison made the first round of additions to enlarge the house, and in 1928 he added the L-shaped addition with the apartment on the second floor and garage and tool storage below, creating the layout which we see today. , , [Insert:] , Florida rancher and pioneer Jacob Summerlin holding a cattle drover's whip. Cowboys used these whips to move the herd along, and the cracking sound they made could be heard over a long distance earning Florida cowboys the nickname "Florida Crackers." , , [Insert:] , The Caretaker's house provided a backdrop for recreation. Mina Edison poses with Edward Hughes, her second husband after a successful fishing trip. , Several of Edison's Caretaker's (and their families) lived in this historic structure. , (caption) , A view from the fountain of the Caretakers House (left, and the original Edison Laboratory (right) circa 1925. , Want to Learn More? For more information about the Edison family in Fort Myers, read Tom Smoot's book The Edisons of Fort Myers, available in our Museum Store or from our website: