Thomas Edison (the man who invented the light bulb among many other things) purchased 13 acres of land along the Caloosahatchee River in Ft. Myers in 1885. How did he get this far south? Tour guides at his winter retreat say he was seeking a refuge from the harsh winters in New Jersey. A year after he bought the property, he and his new bride, Mina, visited the area. Two homes were constructed on the property—one was the Edison’s main retreat cottage and the second one (next door) was for friends and family. The pier in this photo was the first thing built at Seminole Lodge. Nearly all the home’s contents were delivered by boat to this pier. Early photos also show a summer house located at the end of the pier where family and friends gathered to enjoy cool ocean breezes.