Edison Park

By 1866 the former Union army fort known as Fort Myers (previously known as Fort Harvie) on the southern bank of the Caloosahatchee received its first non-army settlers, led by Captain Manuel A. Gonzalez.

In 1872, under provisions of the Homestead Act, Captain Gonzalez moved his family from the fort and claimed a homestead one mile south along the river, making Gonzalez Fort Myers’ first permanent settler.  Running through the middle of his tract was a winding tree-lined creek, which he aptly named “Gonzalez Creek”, today known as “Manuel’s Branch” which represents the southern boundary of what would become Edison Park as we know today.

During the next fifty years, many bought and sold the Gonzalez properties, including a particularly notable three year period when the property was purchased in 1909 by New York Senator Charles A. Stadler, a nationally know millionaire who built one of Florida’s finest homes south of Edison Park along the river, then again in 1911 by John M. Dean, a Rhode Island furniture maker  and developer of the exclusive Dean Park subdivision just east of downtown, and again in 1912 when purchased by the Fort Myers Development Company, comprised of prominent local businessmen.

The face of Edison Park changed in March of 1925, when the Fort Myers Development Company sold the property to St. Petersburg developer C. Perry Snell, and his brother, local attorney G.E. Snell.  The Snells, already developing property along the rier, offered a portion of the plat for sale, and on April 7, 1925, the northern third of the property was sold to New Homes Development Company, which was soon headed by James D. Newton.  Although Newton was only 20 at the time, he had already completed the nearby subdivision, Lovejoy Park.

Together the Snells and Newton drew up a plat of lots and curved roads, naming the subdivision “Edison Park” in honor of their famous neighbor.  The plat was recorded with Lee County in January of 1926, with Newton owing the 55 acres to the north, and the Snells owning the southern two-thirds.

Although the Snells portion of the development remained relatively vacant and incomplete, Newton proceeded with his share of the property.  In early 1926, Newton’s vision began defining the influence and character of the rest of Edison Park.  He included deed restrictions that stated all architecture was to be of Moorish, Spanish, Italian or American modifications.  In addition, every homeowner was given a unique guaranteed for the time that ensured property owners of asphalt streets with curbing, sidewalks, landscaping, and ornamental street lighting and street signs.  By the end of 1926, Newton’s amenities were in place, including telephone service.

On April 7, 1926, one year after purchasing Edison Park, Newton held the grand opening ceremony dedicating its main entrance on McGregor Boulevard.  The backdrop to the entrance was a sculpture of Aphrodite, goddess of water, which was unveiled by Mrs. Edison and served as a part of the impressive fountain flanked by ornate columns and arched walkways.

Toward the end of 1926, the economic bust was felt and Newton was forced to trade lots in Edison Park for labor and equipment.  Over the next few years, the Edison Park School opened, lot sales increased slightly, and four new homes were constructed.

Unfortunately, the onset of the Depression forced both Snell and Newton to sell the majority of the remaining Edison Park lots through public auction to pay off delinquent taxes.  Nearly all those who purchased the lots were investors looking to acquire large tracts for future development.  From 1929 through 1936, the only structure built within Edison Park was the Community congregational Church, on land paid for by the Edison’s.

A “pre-war” boom in the late 1930’s helped spur construction of 27 additional homes and just before the war, a 39-acre tract along Cleveland Avenue and Manuel’s Branch were acquired by Lee County which significantly altered the original Edison Park plat by eliminating ten additional streets.  During the war construction slowed nationwide, and from 1942 through 1945 only six more homes were built.  The post war boom spawned growth in Edison Park, particularly on the Snell property, and by the late 1940’s, 27 more homes were constructed.  During the 1950’s, 69 more homes were built and during the 1960’s & 1970’s the remaining lots were developed with primarily single family homes constructed in the style of the time.

Edison Park was designated as the first Historic District in Fort Myers in November, 1995.  Today, it remains one of our most historic and loved neighborhoods in Fort Myers, and has retained the charm and character that make it such a special place to live.