The Edison Guest House

The Edison Guest House. A Place For Gathering With Friends. Built at the same time as the Edison Main House, the Edison Guest House was originally the winter residence of Edison's good friend and business partner Ezra Gilliland. However, a falling out between the two men destroyed their friendship, and Gilliland sold the home after spending only three short winters in Fort Myers., In 1892, the home was sold to Ambrose McGregor, one of the richest men in the United States at the time. McGregor and his wife Tootie moved to Florida in the hope that the mild climate would help their ailing son Bradford. Ambrose died in 1900 at the age of 58. Eventually, Edison acquired the property in 1906 and used it as a guest house for visiting friends and family., The Guest House included three bedrooms upstairs over a large dining room and sitting area with a piano and phonograph where guests could relax, listen to music, play games and enjoy the views of the river from the 14' wide porches. The adjoining wing had a large kitchen, laundry porch, and living quarters for house support staff that consisted of both year-round and seasonal employees., (Sidebar) , Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? , This photo of the mahogany dining room table was taken in 194?. It was the place where the Edisons enjoyed conversations with many famous visitors, including President-elect Herbert Hoover, Writer and naturalist John Burroughs, industrialist Harvey Firestone, and automobile tycoon Henry Ford., Above Left: President-elect Herbert Hoover, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone pose outside of Seminole Lodge. , Above Right: Herbert Hoover signed the family guest book during his visit in 1929. , Left: Thomas Edison, John Burroughs, and Henry Ford enjoy a walk in the garden in 1914., (captions) , Inset: The Guest House of Seminole Lodge circa 1910. , Madeleine Edison and friends enjoying the Guest House porch.