Eagles Mere, Sullivan County Pa

 

Eagles Mere, Shrewsbury Twp, Sullivan County PA
An Index of Assorted History, Photos, Stories & Resources

Find a facebook album of photos of Eagles Mere HERE

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THE RESORTS
[INNS]

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Crestmont 1900-	In 1892, a cyclone completely cleared a dense stand of Hemlock from a hill, at Eagles Mere.  In 1899  William Y. Warner of Philadelphia went to Eagles mere for a few weeks.  He had no intention of becoming a hotel proprietor.  ".. but when he observed the dominating position of 'cyclone hill'... he saw there an extraordinary site for a summer hotel."  Within a few weeks time Warner had purchased the site and arranged for an Inn to be constructed there.  The Crestmont Inn was ready for guests in June of 1900. In 1911 when Mr. Warner died suddenly, his son in law William Woods took over the management.  In 1933, W. Tingle Dickerson, son in law of Mr. Woods, took over.
Edgemere	Owned and Operated by the Eagles Mere Hotel company. Located on Pennsylvania Avenue "At the turn of the road" just beyond the Presbyterian Chapel. The Edgemere began as the Eagles Mere (Point Breeze) Hotel.  This structure suffered a minor fire, and was moved into "this new position", where it was rebuilt, refurnished, and renamed.
Forest
Lakeside 1880-1962  - Demolished in 1962
Raymond -1942 Destroyed By Fire	"which was for a long time a landmark on the west shore of the lake, where it occupied an admirable situation overlooking the lake and within easy walking distance of Eagles Mere Village and Bathing Beach.  for many years it was operated by William L. Laird.  Following his death it  managed by the Eagles Mere Company until it was completely destroyed by fire late in 1942.  The site was sold to a contiguous cottage owner and has since been turned into a lawn." -

From 1945-1965 The Eagles Mere Playhouse, owned by the Forest Inn, was rented by Lucy McCammon and Miss Krause.  it featured performers such as Patricia Neal, Jimmy Gheen, Charlton Heston, Jennifer Jones, Paula Prentiss, and Richard Benjamin.

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Smaller Hotels

As listed in Eagles Mere and the Sullivan Highlands 

by McFarland, 1944

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The Eagles Mere Inn

Formerly the Hotel Lewis

Located on Mary Avenue

SEE MORE HERE

The Allegheny Hotel

1885-

Corner of Laporte and Allegheny Avenues across from the Methodist Church

Four Stories Tall, 44 rooms, open year round, could accommodate 125 guests.  Closed as a hotel in 1960, used by Eagles Mere Athletic Assoc as a youth Center and employee dormitory.  Torn down in 1979.  

The Flora Villa

 Just west of the Eagles Mere Post Office

The Lake Shore Inn

Facing the Lake outlet

The Eagle Inn

On Eagles Mere Avenue

Eagles Mere Cottages

"In addition to the hotels and cottages previously mentioned in this book, there are, in Eagles Mere borough, south and west of the lake, some 85 cottages, large and small, which are used for summer residence only" - McFarland

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EVENTS

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The Eagles Mere Toboggan Slide

First built in 1903, it continues to be built when the winter weather cooperates.

Read more about it's history here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-eagles-mere-toboggan-slide.html

The Eagles Mere Water Carnival

See More Here

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Atb8ir77s/

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THE LAKE

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THE RAILROAD

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See more photos of trains in and around Eagles Mere, including the Williamsport and North Branch line, here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18KccHvi3R/

Read more about the Eagles Mere Railroad here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/10/emrr-eagles-mere-railroad.html

Read more about Castle Rock here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DK4QGDX1y/

There's a fantastic model train display in the Eagles Mere Museum

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BOOKS  & BOOKLETS

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Crestmont  By Holly Weis Historical Fiction	Eagles Mere &  The Sullivan Highlands By McFarland  READ ONLINE FREE HERE
Eagles Mere Reverie Musical Score	Early Promotional Booklet Includes List of Cottages	History of Sullivan Co By Streby

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MAPS

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Sullivan County 1895

1872 Map Of Sullivan County

1918 Steam Railroad Map

Maps Available At The Sullivan County Museum

Sullivan County was established on March 15, 1847 from Lycoming County.

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VISITING TODAY

Things To See

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	The Cabin From Montgomery That was moved to Eagles Mere

Eagles Mere Historical Society

Sullivan County Historical Society

Eagles Mere Auto Museum

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READ MORE

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Embley S. Chase came to Eagles Mere in 1886 and helped to turn the area into a popular resort town.

Assorted Notes:

   Mrs. Harry G. Clay, of this city, is collecting funds

to erect a chapel at Eagles Mere. (year unknown, included in the newspaper clippings of Walt Whitman) 

Displayed at the 1895 Lycoming County Centennial: " Judge  C.  D.  Eldred,  pane  of  bull's-eye  glass,  made  at  Eagles  Mere at  the  beginning  of  the  century,  by  the  Englishman  Lewis." 

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The land around what is now known as Eagles Mere Lake was first purchased by Charles Walstoncraft, a prominent Philadelphian.  He then sold the lake, along with over 10,000 acres, to George Lewis in 1794.  Lewis then surveyed the land, planned a community, and took advantage of the lake’s sandy beach to begin a glassworks in 1803.  However, his endeavor floundered with the onset of the trade restrictions brought on by the War of 1812 and it was defunct by 1829.  The lake and surrounding land went through various owners until a group of four businessmen created what came to be known as the Syndicate and began what would become a resort community in 1877.  This Syndicate, the forerunner of the present-day Eagles Mere Association, promoted their resort, built its infrastructure, groomed its beach and laid out its famous hiking trails.

As the resort became more popular, more vacation and summer homes were constructed in the form of cottages.  Built in the Queen Anne, American Craftsman, Prairie School and Shingle architectural styles, these cottages comprise the largest number of contributing buildings.  However, due to a restrictive covenant that prohibited building and clear-cutting along the lakeshore, these cottages are located primarily along Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania and Lakewood Avenues, which encircle the lake.  Today, the district is divided into five sections: the original village, Pennsylvania Avenue, Crestmont and Lakewood Avenues, the park/beach section, and Lake and Shoreline Avenues.

The district’s commercial structures are primarily centered within the town of Eagles Mere and include Miller’s Drug Store (1903), the Sweet Shop (1885), the Eagles Mere Fire Company and Community Hall (1942) and the former Post Office (1902).  Also located within the town is the museum which is devoted to the 200+ year history of the area.  Its exhibits include The George Lewis Glassworks Era, 1804-1830; The Farming Era, 1830-1880; and The Big Hotels’ Era, 1880-1960s.  Also located at the museum is the Visitor Information Center.

Other prominent contributors to the district are its boathouses and beach area located at the lake’s northern end as well as its four churches.  St. John’s-in-the-Wilderness Episcopal Church was built in 1894 and is one of the few all stone buildings in the district and the original section of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church was built in 1905.