Edison Park celebrates 100th anniversary of beloved statue 'Rachel at the Well'

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — The Edison Park Neighborhood Association celebrated 100 years of history on Sunday by honoring "Rachel at the Well," a landmark that's become the heart of Edison Park.

• RELATED: Rachel at the Well statue restoration nearly complete

A parade through Edison Park marked the centennial of "Rachel at the Well." The statue was installed in 1926 and has long stood as a symbol of the community, originally known as "The Spirit of Fort Myers."

With ties to the era of Thomas Edison, the statue has become a landmark and a point of pride for generations. A priest spoke at the celebration.

"We gather today to look upon the past, to celebrate the present, and to look forward in faith for the future," the priest said.

Fort Myers Councilman Liston Bochette reflected on the statue's significance. Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson also spoke about what the statue means to the community.

"She's more than the statue. She's part of the community. She's one of us," Anderson said.

The statue's history hasn't been easy. In 2022, Hurricane Ian damaged the statue, sparking restoration efforts to preserve it.

Anderson emphasized the community's resilience in bringing the statue back.

"I think this speaks to what community is. We come together there. We lost Rachel during the storm. We never gave up. Now, the community is here together celebrating her return," Anderson said.

A century later, the celebration was about more than a parade. It was about honoring history and protecting a symbol that continues to define the neighborhood.

"In the end, the spirit of Fort Myers is more than a statue. She is a reminder that even after the storm, we are still here and we are still strong," Anderson said.