The Mangoes: Henry Ford’s Florida Retreat

The Mangoes: Henry Ford’s Florida Retreat. Edison and Ford Winter Estates. In 1916, Henry Ford purchased the property for $20,000 from Robert Smith, a financier from New York. A variety of fruit trees grew on the property, including mangoes, papayas, grapefruit, oranges, lemons, and coconut palms. , , Classic Bungalow Style , Built in 1911, this house is an example of the "American Bungalow" style of architecture. It features cedar-shingle siding, wide covered porches with sturdy columns, a gabled metal roof and dormers with decorative beams. Interior finishes include cypress ceiling beams and yellow pine moldings, built-in benches and window seating, as well as ample cabinet and shelf storage. In 1928, Ford added two bedroom and bath suites to the first floor as wings to the original building. These areas were necessary space for guests and staff such as Henry Ford's secretary, Frank Campsall, who accompanied him during several trips. On the second floor were bedrooms for the Fords, their son Edsel, a den, indoor bathroom, and a semi-enclosed sleeping porch. , , Fast Facts: , Did you know that Ford and his engineers secretly developed the V-8 engine inside Edison's old Fort Myers Laboratory at Greenfield Village? The lab is currently on display in Dearborn, Michigan. , , Did You Know? , Henry and Clara Ford would normally stay at the Mangoes one to three weeks per year to visit the Edison Family. , (captions) , Above Left: Riverfront view of Ford's winter estate with notes identifying some of the fruit trees on the site. , Below Left: View of the Mangoes from the Ford Caretakers house. , , Inset Photo: The Mangoes pictured during construction, circa 1911. Below: Thomas Edison, Clara Ford, and Henry Ford relax on the porch of the Mangoes circa 1929.