Burroughs Home and Gardens
The Burroughs Home is a historic home in Fort Myers, Florida. John T. Murphy, a cattle rancher, had it built in 1901. It remains one of the first Georgian Revival style homes still standing. Nelson Burroughs bought the house in 1919. Occupied by the Burroughs family, it still features most of the original furnishings. The house was the scene of many social events that hosted the elite of Fort Myers. It is now featured on the US National Register of Historic Places.
Daughter Jettie lived in the house until 1971, and the other daughter, Mona, until 1978. Mona bequeathed the house to the city of Fort Myers to be preserved in perpetuity as a public garden or museum. The home has become an award-winning mansion wedding venue.
Members of the Estero Island Garden Club on Mona’s Dancing Porch
Diane & Sharon
Becky
Karen, Laura & Susan
Joanie & Laura
Ann & Carol
Cathy, Ethel & Carol
Katie & Bobbi
Nina
Ginnie, Paula & Bernadette
Docent Donna elaborated on the history of the house
Mary Louise & Jan
The ramp leads from the home, through the gardens and ends up at the open-air pavilion overlooking the Caloosahatchee River
Grand staircase in foyer of house with an elaborate period costume on display
Hand painted mural by Diane Hays Mayer
Salon with grand piano
Dining Room
Butler's pantry
Kitchen
Kitchen
Jettie’s bedroom
Jettie’s bureau with hats
Nelson Burroughs’ bedroom
Nelson Burroughs’ settee
Religious Triptych
Study
Machines in study
Uniform of James Newton
Servants’ quarters on top floor
Open-air Pavilion & bridge
The home sits on 2 acres of lush gardens along the Caloosahatchee River.
The Gayle McBride Pavilion, built in 2015
The Uncommon Friends Foundation, which manages this historic property, hopes that leasing the Pavilion for public and private events will hope fund their mission, “to promote character education in schools, business ethics in the workplace and historic preservation of the Burroughs House and James Newton Archives.”
James Newton’s Uncommon Friends is a memoir in which Newton recalls a lifetime of friendship with Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis Carrel and Charles Lindbergh. The Uncommon Friends Foundation was established in 1993 and is dedicated to lifelong character-building among today’s youth and business leaders.
Caterer for luncheon buffet
Chicken
Rolls & butter
Polky with Best Hat of All
It’s also a hat with a history because it was previously worn at the Kentucky Derby.
Table One
Table Two
Table Three
Table Four
Table Five
After lunch, Susan Lawson, President of Fort Myers/Lee County Garden Council, conducted the installation of new club officers. She presented each new officer with a kaleidoscope whose color related to the officer’s duties
Laura, Assistant Treasurer
Margaret, Hospitality
Cathy, Communications
Karen, Second Vice-President & Membership
Patti, First Vice-President & Programs
Co-presidents Bonnie & Mary Louise
Outgoing Board 2020 - 2022
Incoming Board 2022-2024