¢ 1.
OBERT 'H. Sayre, Chief engineer
. and official of die early Lehigh
bh Valley Railroad, had ‘a dream as he
stood on a hill overlooking the site on which
he had chosen to build his new railroad
shops . « . “Whata magnificent location for
a greaty city.” Howard Elmer, local
busin: and his associates carried out
the Levin. din over a period of a few
years, the land, and laying out the streets for
the town of Sayre, Pennsylvania.
* ‘Today the town bears’ the name of the
man with the dream, and the town park
commemorates the man who carried out the
Th=pagoda that still stands there once
| Il
(RE
run in May, 1896 between Jersey City and
Buffalo, it is recalled by those who saw it'as
“Thee handsomest Train in the World.”
With the decline of Railroading, the name
of Sayre has taken on a new connotation
over the years, being cotipled with the name
of the Robert Packer Hospital or the Guthrie
Clinic, But even this is closely connected
with the history of the Lehigh Valley
Railroad.” * | |
In 1877 Robert Packer, who was
then president of the Lehigh Valley Railroad,
moved to Sayre, erecting a large, elaborate
Victorian mansion on a small hill
ovetlooking the'railroad shops. The
housewarming for this spectacular home was
said to be the grandest affair ever witnessed
by the people in the area. Special trains wére
provided to bring the Towanda guests.
Robert Packer died in 1883, at the age of 41,
leaving the mansion to his sister. The growth
of the railroad, and several very severe
accidents in the shop area at Sayre, had
‘brought to light the all too real need for
heard the lively tunes of the Lehigh Valley *
Railroad Band, and watched as Sayre
Citizens followed the lovely tradition of _ .
planting trees around the park on Arbor Day,
in memory of loved ones. Howard Elmer
Park, recently saved from destruction by the
citizens of Sayre, remains to remind us of the
dream and the plans of Robert 'H. Sayre and
~The Lehigh Valley Railroad was the raison |
east, passengers were only'incidental to the
Lehigh Valley Railroad. Yet, it is 4 passenger
trail, “The Black Diamond Expressi* that
ndly remembered. Making its first
4
5 Ee
8
ba
¥
of townspeople approached Mrs. Mary
3
estate, provided they name the hospital after
her brother. Thus began the Robert Packer
¥ TF TE %
ils £9 wh wd
3
eI
$ i #5
¥ 5 = 5
ERs EER
Hospital, who's modern history began in
1910 with the arrival of Dr. Donald Guthrie.
‘Together the Robert Packer Hospital and the
Guthrie Clinic, have advanced and grown to
bring the area the finest fatilitiesand medical
care possible . . . and their names have
become synonymous with Sayre.
The town of Sayre has always been a
progressive town, proud of its traditions; but
ever cognizant of the importance of progress
in all phases of its community . ... its school
systems, its parks, its business area, and its
government. If Robert H. Sayre could look
down from his hill today, he would be proud
to see that this dream had’ come true.
W #
. # :