Holiday Nights to light up Edison & Ford Estates

Southwest Florida is home to the winter estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Best known for his work with electricity and the light bulb, Mr. Edison also created early Christmas lights. The Edison & Ford Winter Estates is celebrating Mr. Edison’s concept in a different way with a different look in December.

This year, historic McGregor Boulevard where Edison planted the first royal palms in 1907, will be filled with colorful holiday lights. The two Estates will include colored lights and historic decorations as well as some high tech lighting examples that Mr. Edison would have enjoyed such as new LED versions and laser projections in the trees.

Edison & Ford Holiday Nights will be held from Dec. 11 through Jan. 2, 5:30-9 p.m., closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Local residents will remember seeing lights of many colors in years past on the Estates grounds. And looking even further back, Thomas and Mina Edison would have used multi-colored lights to decorate for the holidays in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

More than 120 years ago, Thomas Edison created the very first strand of electric light bulbs for use as a Christmas decoration. During Christmas 1880, he strung these strands around his Menlo Park complex in New Jersey, including on the outside of his famous laboratory. Those who passed by via a nearby railroad would have had the privilege of glimpsing the first holiday electric light display.

In 1882, Edward Johnston, Edison’s friend and

partner in the Edison

Illuminating Company, put together the first strand of electric Christmas tree lights by hand. He wired 80 red, white, and blue bulbs together, and strung them around his Christmas tree at his home in New York City. Interestingly, the tree was not only lighted, but Mr. Johnson also rigged it to revolve. However, electricity was still expensive and only in minimal usage in private homes at the turn of the century. Businesses took the next step in promoting the use of Christmas lights. In the late 19th century, businesses began using Christmas lights in window displays. At this time, the services of a “wireman” (similar to our modern-day electrician) were necessary to wire the lights to an existing outlet.

Tickets to Holiday Nights are $15 adults, $1 for children 6-12 and $8 for students (13 through college age with college ID). Group reservations and prices are available with advance scheduling by calling 334-7419.

For more information, call 334-7419 or visit www.efwefla.org. 