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The shop which is now the new home of Eagles Mere East was built some time between 1898 and 1902.  According to Bush and Barbara James’s book Mere Reflections   the actual date is not known for sure, but it is known that the building was standing and in operation as the Eagles Mere Post office when the shop to its right was constructed in 1902 to house the Pharmacy... The Post Office stayed at this location, along with the Taxi Stand, until sometime in the 1920s, when it was moved across the street into what is now the Bank.  In 1934 it was moved again, this time into the General Store where it remained until it finally settled down in its present spot.

After the Post Office moved out, the building took on a new life.  Mrs. Shihadeh, a Hughesville resident, set up shop as a purveyor of linens, sweaters, dresses and other articles of clothing of good quality and design.  Many of her items were of Indian and, later, Pakistani origin.  The shop was open every summer for an astonishing fifty years, right through World War II and on through all the changes that took place during the fifties and sixties, until the demise of most of the great hotels.

In 1985 the shop became Mrs. McKenna’s Irish Shop. For 13 summers Anne McKenna of Ardmore brought up to Eagles Mere her collection of Irish clothing and gifts, much of which she bought on her yearly visits to Ireland.  One could hardly go out and about on the mountain without seeing a man wearing an Irish tweed cap!   Anne’s shop in Ardmore is still in business, run by her son.  After Anne left, the shop had several tenants.

So we now come to 2006.  After being in the General Store building for twenty-two years, Eagles Mere East is looking back across the street.  Vivien and I hope to be here for as long as possible, bringing you old and new treasures from Asia and around the world.  We hope you will come in and see what is going on.  We shall still carry many of the same fun things for people of all ages and will have surprises every now and then. There will be a Lucky Thing every year and Stretch Warriors as long as someone keeps on making them…..