Currently, Thomas Edison Congregational Church is located at 1619 Llellyn Drive, Fort Myers Florida. The church was founded in 1925 by O.T. Anderson. Initially, services were held at the Ritz Theater and later the ArcadianTheater.

     The first church building was built in 1925.  It was located a block from McGregor. The first floor served as the church. The pastor’s residence was on the.second floor.  The building that served as the first church still exists as a private residence at 1462 Alhambra, Fort Myers.

     In 1930, money was raised to purchase lots.for a new church building at 1619 Llellyn Drive. This was built on 4 lots.  First services in this new location were November 1, 1931. Members of the congregation included Thomas Edison and wife, Henry Whitcomb and Robbie Newton.

    In 1964, the name of the church was changed to Thomas Edison Congregational Church. In 1980, the church joined the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches.  The church is self governing.  This means the duties and responsibilities are shared by all members.

   The Green Flash Restaurant is located at 15183 Captiva Drive, Captive Island Florida.  The property on which it is located formerly was the site of Timothy’s Nook. This was a historic watering hole.  It was frequented by natives and tourists.  The Nook operated for 40 years.  The property was purchased from the Wiles Family.

     The Wes Nott Memorial is located at the North East Corner of the Fort Myers Campus of Lee Memorial Hospital. Its address is 2610 South Cleveland Avenue. It is a broad concrete court  yard dominated by a wide circular fountain punctuated at the far right end by a v shaped balustrade against which leans a life sized statue of swim coach Wes Nott.  The site is the approximate location of the former Wes Nott pool.

     Wes Nott was the legendary swim.coach.of Fort Myers High School.  During his career, he touched the lives of approximately 8, 000 students.

     The life sized statue of Wes Nott is cold cast aluminum.  It was commissioned by Fort Myers Beautification Advisory Board. It was cast in North Fort Myers by sculpture D. J. Wilkens. The railing that the statue is leaning on is similar to the one on the original swimming pool.

The memorial was dedicated on July 14, 2020.  Thanks was offered to the Lee Memorial Auxiliary for contributions to the beautificarion of Wes Nott Park.

    Over the years, the sculpture, pool, and fountain has fallen into disrepair.  Under the supervision of Chris-Tel Construction, renovation began in 2018.  Renovation of the sculpture was handled by Rosa Low inter and Associates.

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  Entrance to Edison Park Fort Myers

•      Edison Park is a development in Fort Myers.  The site of Edison Park was originally an area of Saw Palmetto  and scrub vegetation. It was completely developed over the period of 50 years. It lies between Tamiami Trail and McGregor Boulevard. The northern one third was the oldest section. It was developed by James Newton.

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Emblem on Arch

Same as above

     The Edison Park Grand Entrance is located along McGregor Boulevard. It features a Grecian Statue with a fountain  The statue was crafted by Helmuth Von Zengin.  There was also a grand gateway at the entrance. The grand opening was April 7, 1926.   It was designated as Fort Myers first local historic district.   

Lee Memorial Hospital Fort Myers  2776 Cleveland Avenue

Same as Above

     Edison Park is home to 156 single family homes and a half dozen multifamily homes.

Same as above

    Included in this area are family home of Thomas Alva Edison, Congregational Church, Edison Park School, (on the National Register of Historic Places), Fort Myers High School, Lee Memorial Hospital (Cleveland Campus), Wes Nott Memorial and Lions Park.

Lee Medical Office Center

Lee Medical Officer Center

Lee Memorial Auxiliary Fountain, Fort Myers

Same as above

Lee Memorial Auxiliary Fountain     Wes Nott Memorial

Same as above.   Wes Nott Memorial

Memorial Plaque Peggy Rainey Gray Teacher and Coach 1950–1961

Edison Park Creative and Expressive Arts School 2401 Cleveland Avenue Fort Myers

     Flomaton, Alabama is a small town located on the Alabama Florida Border.  Its population is approximately 1400.  It is the area where there was a junction of multiple lines of the L & N Railroad.

     Recently, it was announced by CSX Railroad (the successor of the L & N Railroad) that a historic structure in the train yard was scheduled to be taken down.  Specifically, a coaling tower built in 1943 was scheduled for demolition.

     Coaling towers were structures common in the age of steam engines.   They were used to accomplish fueling of steam engines with coal.

     The author recently visited area coaling towers in Michigan City, Indiana and New Buffalo, Michigan.

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New Pass Bridge

New Pass Bridge

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John Ringling Causeway Bridge

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