Helping Naked Ed Get a New Home

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ A local legend known for his penchant to forego clothing is in need. Ed Watts, also known as Naked Ed, lived on the Santa Fe River for over 35 years. He served as caretaker for a piece of property that surrounds Lily Springs. As most locals know, most of the time, Ed doesn’t wear clothes.

When Ed first found the spring in 1984, it was covered in trash. Watts asked the owner if he could clean it up and swim in it—naked. Watts was called the springs' caretaker and was given a 20-year no-payment lease.

Ed first began staying at Lily Springs in a tent for only a few days week. After about a year he began living there full time, at first in a grass hut he built on the ground, and then in a hut on stilts due to flooding.

Over the years Ed became a local celebrity as people kayaking the river would stop at Lily Springs to see him. He became what he calls “a tourist attraction” due to the numbers of people who canoed the river to visit. Ed does acquiesce to convention when people are around as he wears a loincloth to be polite. Other times he is simply “Naked Ed.”

Even though Ed lives alone, he enjoys talking with visitors. And he does create quite an impression. Even the staff of two governors thought it was wise for the head of state to meet with the naked man during “field visits.” Watts became so well known in area that there was even a beer named after him.

Over the past few years, Naked Ed's health problems, including brittle bone disease, have forced him to spend less time on the river and more at a house on family land in Columbia County on Southwest Brawley Terrace. Tragedy struck on Feb. 1 when his home burned to the ground. Ed was inside with family at the time, but they quickly realized the fire was beyond their control to extinguish. They called the fire department, but it was too late.

Ed lost everything and is now living in a motel. Fiends and community members have set up several charity drives to help get him on his feet and get a new house.

One friend set up a GoFundMe at:https://www.gofundme.com/.../wbhcqe-help-naked-ed-rebuild. So far, over $3,000 has been collected. The Santa Fe Bar has also organized a benefit concert for Naked Ed and is a drop-off location for clothing, household items and monetary donations.

The benefit concert will be held at Rum 138, 2070 S.W. County Road 138, on Saturday, Feb. 26. Music starts at 1 p.m. and will play till 10 p.m., weather permitting. Six local bands or performers are donating their playing time for Naked Ed’s benefit. He needs a shed or tiny home for his property, at a reduced cost or donated. Volunteers to help with clean-up after the fire, as well as electrical and plumbing installation are also needed.

In addition to the music, the event includes food and drinks as well as a donation drive with a suggested $10 entry per person. An art auction of Naked Ed portraits by painter Michèle Karahalios and photographer John Moran will take place at 6 p.m., all to help raise funds for a new roof over his head and replace items lost in the fire so he can continue to live on his family land.

The music schedule is:1 – 2 p.m. DJ Scotti J; 2 – 3 p.m. Quartermoon; 3 – 4:30 p.m. Jim’s Livingroom; 4:30 – 6 p.m. Weeds of Eden; 6 – 6:30 p.m. art auction; 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. In The Moment and 8:30 - 10 p.m. Lionel Jr. the Voodoo Cowboy.

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