Author: canalman

Edison Park Fort Myers, Florida

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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.
Arch to Entrance Edison Park

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Emblem on Arch

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Fountain at Entrance to Edison Park

     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

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

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    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

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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

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Edison Park Creative and Expressive Arts School

Historic Plaque Edison Park School

Edison Park Creative and Expressive Arts School. Fort Myers, Florida.

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Edison Park Creative and Expressive Arts School Fort Myers, Florida

Edison Park Creative and Expressive Arts School. Fort Myers, Florida

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Thomas Edison Congregational Church 1619 Llellyn Drive, Fort Myers, Florida

Thomas Edison Congregational Church 1619 Llellyn Drive Fort Myers, Florida

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Sign Lions Park

Lions Park, Fort Myers, Florida

Lions Park Playground

Playground Lions Park

Lion Statue

Memorial Plaque

Dedication Plaque

Soccer Field Lions Park

Tennis Courts Lions Park

Home in Edison Park on Llellyn  Drive

1943 L& N Railroad Coaling Tower on State Line Flomaton, Alabama

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L & N Railroad Coaling Tower on State Line  Flomaton, Alabama

     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.

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     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.

L & N Railroad Calling Tower Flomaton, Alabama

     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.

L & N Railroad Logo on Coal Tower Flomaton, Alabama

L & N Railroad Coal Tower Note the Construction Date 1943.

Old Coaling Tower, Pere Marquette Railroad, New Buffalo, Michigan

Michigan Central Railroad Coaling Tower, Michigan City, Indiana

New Pass Bridge

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Entrance into New Pass Bridge
     This is a bascule bridge over New Pass on Florida 789 in Sarasota.  The total length is 970 feet. The length of the largest span is 117 feet.   Bridge width is 55.8 feet.  Construction date is 1986.  The main span is steel.  Deck type is concrete.
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New Pass Bridge
New Pass Bridge
New Pass Bridge

New Pass Bridge

New Pass Bridge

New Pass Bridge

John Ringling Causeway Bridge

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John Ringling Causeway Bridge
     The Ringling Causeway Bridge (AKA Ringling Bridge or Gil Waters Bridge) extends from Sarasota to Saint Armand Key and Lido Key.
View from the John Ringling Causeway Bridge
     The first bridge at this site was built in 1926.  It was built at a cost of $750,000 by John Ringling. He owned tracts of land both on Longboat Key and Lido Key and needed access to them.
John Ringling Causeway Bridge
     Approximately in 1950, the bridge became inadequate for its.needs.  In 1951, the state road department opted to replace the bridge with a 4 lane drawbridge It opened in in 1959.  The cost was 12 million dollars.
View from John Ringling Causeway Bridge
     Approximately in 2000, it became apparent that the bridge was inadequate for its needs. In 2001, construction began on a new high span bridge.  The bridge is 65 feet tall. It opened in 2003.  Construction costs were 68 million dollars.  It was built by PCL Construction.
John Ringling Causeway Bridge
     Bridge is a multiple cell post tension concrete box girder bridge with spans of 184 to 300 feet.  Total length was 3096 feet.  Width is 106.35 feet.  There are 11 spans and 4 lanes.
View from John Ringling Causeway Bridge
John Ringling Causeway Bridge
John Ringling Causeway Bridge View
John Ringling Causeway Bridge
John Ringling Causeway Bridge
John Ringling Causeway Bridge
John Ringling Causeway Bridge

    Pickle Barrel Restaurant 1423 . Wells Street, Chicago

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    • Pickle Barrel Old Towm

      •   The Pickle Barrel was founded by Leo Osher who was a successful restauranteur .  He ran multiple Jewish style restaurants and delis in the Chicago area from 1950 until his death. .  Osher was a Chicago native who grew up in the west side. He graduated from Roosevelt High School.  In 1950, he opened the Corned Beef Center (A small deli) at 3352 Broadway in Chicago. It was in business for 10 years.     In 1960, he opened the Pickle Barrel at 1423 N. Wells Street in Chicago. The walls were decorated with oddities and antiques.  At each table, there was a barrel of pickles, a bucket of popcorn and a small barrel of Kosher dill pickles.    In an average week, the Pickle Barrel would go through 10 fifty pound barrels of pickles and 400 pounds of popcorn.  The menu included deli sandwiches, ribs, fried shrimp, and sloppy joes. Balloon artists entertained the kids and pitcher of beers the adults.     At one time, there multiple Pickle Barrel Restaurants in the Chicago area.  These included  one on Oak Street, one at Howard and Western, one at the Park Forest Plaza in Park Foresr, Illinois, one at 240 Skokie Boulevard in Northbrook.  Osher sold the chain in the 1970’s.  He and his son opened Barnum and Baegel Restaurant at 4700 West Dumpster in Skokie.  He died April 20, 199.

      Pickle Barrel Restaurant Howard and Western Chicago

      Pickle Barrel on Oak Street