Eagles Mere Historic District and Village

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.