An Approving Crowd
Celebrates Opening
Of the New Museum

Some 150 enthusiastic citizens and visitors looked on Saturday morning as the red ribbon was cut at the door of a new Eagles Mere Museum, just dubbed “second to none” in the state by State Senator Roger Madigan, and accepted by Mayor Betty Hays from the Museum Commission “on behalf of all of Eagles Mere.”

Senator Madigan and Mayor Hays held the ribbon as Joanne Smith, Commission Chairman since its founding in 1985, cut it, winding up a 30-minute Grand Opening ceremony.  The crowd heard remarks from the Museum’s designer, Joseph Nicholson, and from several Commissioners who played pivotal roles in an intense two years effort to design and build the Museum, and move it from its home for the past 20 years, the old Third Baptist Church on Laporte Avenue. The new Museum in the renovated General Store building now anchors the commercial center of the village.

Chairman Smith warmly thanked all the present Commission members for their hard work, and paid tribute to previous Commissioners, especially the late Bud Watts, whose “dream to have an Eagles Mere Museum soon became mine.”
She then introduced Nicholson, a partner of UJMN Architects & Designers of Philadelphia, who said, “the joy of this“ to him was “to see a community come together to celebrate their history.”

Commissioner Peter Glaubitz, the Museum’s volunteer project manager, remarked that its “significant level of excellence” is the product of  “a vast network of support from residents, cottage owners, community representatives, a leading museum architect/designer, a professional fabricator and installer, and other friends of Eagles Mere.“  He expressed his pride that the Commission spent the grants and contributions it has received “carefully and well, always focused on high quality, receiving value for the money spent, and avoiding waste and frivolous spending.”

The Museum’s Curator, Barbara James, said she was most excited that “everything that you all have donated in the past 20 years is now displayed or stored in a climate controlled and fire protected environment.” She thanked “everyone who has shared some of their prized possessions with us,” and pointed out that these and future gifts will be “housed in optimal conditions.”  For the future, she saw the Museum developing an expanded internet presence, regular special exhibits, and becoming a resource for local schools.

Commissioner Philip McDermott, fund raising chairman, stressed that  60 percent of the approximately $525,000 cost of the new exhibits has come from grants, primarily from the Eagles Mere Borough Council, but also from  state agencies and the Sullivan County Commissioners.  He cited early vital planning help from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, and planning and construction grants from the Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission, and the Endless Mountains Heritage Region.

McDermott also credited “the close cooperative effort” among Eagles Mere Historic Village, Inc., owner of the restored building, the Museum and the Borough, “people within our community with vision and purpose” who together “made good things happen.”  He noted that the number of donors, nearing 400, exceeds any previous similar campaign in Eagles Mere.

The Museum fabricator, Malone of Atlanta, has a few days’ work to finish up over the next few weeks, but the Museum will be open most days from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Call 525-3155 for the exact days and hours.

The New Eagles Mere Museum

Location: On Eagles Mere Ave. (Route 42) at the Historic clock in the restored General Store Building!

Purpose: To discover, collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret the historical and cultural heritage of Eagles Mere and to provide educational opportunities for residents, schools and other museums through programs of historical interest.

Exhibits include: Photographs, Dresses, Dollhouse, Books, Tools,
Postcards, Railroad Model
Artifacts include items from
The George Lewis Glassworks era 1804-1830
The farming era 1830-1880
The narrow gauge railroad 1892-1926
The big hotels' era 1880-1960s
Also available are genealogical records, old newspapers,
brochures, organizations' records, hotel registers etc.

Our computer allows us to communicate with other local museums and to produce copies of photographs, postcards etc.

Eagles Mere is on the National Register of Historic Places, and our Museum is a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Museums.

Summer Hours : Daily
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Phone Number : 570-525-3155

Commissioners:

From the Commission :

We recently welcomed Mary Mooney from the Eagles Mere Borough Council as a new Commissioner.

The Museum is in the third and final year of a Capital Campaign to pay for its new exhibits and other improvements.  Through December 31, 2008, all contributors to the Campaign are considered members, and vice versa.  For 2009, the Museum will resume soliciting annual memberships from its supporters.  The Museum is a function of the Borough of Eagles Mere, and contributions are tax deductible.  They may be mailed to:

Please Mail contributions or membership fees ( $25) to:
EMB Museum
Box 440
Eagles Mere, PA
17731

 EMBM Membership Application

This page last updated: 02-14-08

Contact:Susan Iannuzzi Webmaster for EM Borough