💨 Abstract

Rich industrialists Thomas Edison and Henry Ford popularized wintering in Florida, starting with Edison's 1885 visit to Fort Myers. Edison built a house and installed a generator, inspiring local electricity use. Ford, initially an employee of Edison, became his friend and neighbor. They, along with John Burroughs and Harvey Firestone, formed the "Vagabonds," exploring the U.S. and promoting domestic rubber production, particularly in Florida.

Courtesy: WTOP Staff