Our MISSION: To establish a museum; to collect, maintain and display historical information and arti
The Sayre Historical Society was established in 1989 to preserve artifacts, documents and photos related to the history of Sayre. A local history museum was established in the former Lehigh Valley Railroad Passenger Station located in downtown Sayre. The structure, built in 1881, is two-story brick Queen Ann style Victorian structure that is the centerpiece of the downtown Victorian Sayre renovation and revitalization.
Eagle Scout candidate Gherig Thurston has been busy around the Sayre Historical Society Museum. He painted the mile markers on the track side of the station and refurbished a flatbed cart and baggage hand cart. Just look at the fine job he did on these projects. Thank you Gherig!
Sayre Historical Society Museum was one of the stops on the Bradford County Historical Architectural Tour Saturday August 24.
This display is now available at the Sayre Historical Society Museum. On Saturday August 24, the Sayre Museum is on the Bradford County Historic Society's member only Valley Tour of historic places. After the group leaves the museum they will tour Ascension Ukrainian Catholic Church on Higgins Avenue. The display is courtesy of the Patterson family descendants of the Cheresnowsky family.
Kim Ronet of Orem Utah recently visited the Sayre Historical Society Museum with her family. Kim represents PA-SHARE Pennsylvania’s GIS and online project management system for documenting and working with Pennsylvania’s older and historic places. So far this season the Sayre Historical Society Museum has had visitors from New York, Pennsylvania, Washington State, Arizona, Tennessee, Indiana, Washington DC, New jersey, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Delaware, Nebraska, Utah, California and Costa Rica.
The Sayre Historical Society is pleased to announce that Jonathon Gulyas has joined the staff of the society as an Archivist and Docent. Jonathon is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and certification in Public History and Museum Studies.
Gulyas said that one of his greatest interests is learning about local history, whether its in big cities or small towns, in fact, he enjoys writing his own history book series called the Bradford County Chronicles, which uncovers forgotten history in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. A majority of these books are actually about local history in Sayre, which he enjoys writing about a lot. When it comes to local history in Sayre, he is interested in every topic that comes his way, as the more history he can learn, the more history he can share with others. Jonathon’s career goal is to be a museum director in a small local museum. Be sure and stop in the museum and meet Jonathon.
The Sayre Historical Society is located at 103 south Lehigh Avenue in Historic Downtown Sayre. The hours of operation are Wednesday from 4 to 6:30 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. For more information visit the Sayre Historical society page.
The Sayre Historical Society Annual Antique Appraisal Day brought an interesting array of items to the society to be appraised by Barbara Kotasek of the Owego Emporium. Barb, a very qualified and knowledgeable authority on many antiquities, dazzled the audience once again with her ability to give the history of an item and help the owner understand exactly what it is they have in their personal collection.
Twenty-one items were appraised this year at the event to include a Brownie Hawkeye camera made by Kodak in Rochester, NY valued at $100. Souvenir wooden miniature carvings of men valued at $125to $150. 2 statues made of copper covered with an overlay of plaster one in bad repair valued at $200 to $500. Oil painting on cardboard by Robert Wood 16 by 20 valued at $150 t $175. A 1934 $1,000 bill valued at $400, Jackie Robinson Mint Coin set all authentic with papers $500 to$1,000. Vase with some damage Portuguese with a scene and cobalt blue and fired gold trim valued at $225. Print of horses from Tyrone, NY circa 1940 valued at $75. A penny from 1852 valued at $200. 3 class rings one from Waverly, NY 1939, Troy, Pa 1953 and Douville College 1950 valued at $500. Lehigh Valley Railroad Pass signed by Asa Packer valued at $100. Merchants Mechanics Bank of Sayre savings bank, a $10 bill with Merchants Mechanics savings bank imprinted on it and assorted photos from the bank valued from $800 to $1,000. A quarter century of Duck Stamps valued at $75 to $100. Ink pen, letter opener made of Ivory which Ms. Kotasek said the owner could not sell valued between $400 and $500. Bronze sculpture with wooden base valued at $2,000. Very ornate machete brought home by the owner’s father during World War II valued between $400 and $500.
The most talked about item of the day was a framed invitation to dinner from President William Howard Taft. The invitation is large and in a 16 by 20 frame. It reads: Dinner to William Howard Taft the President of the United States by the Lotos Club New York November Sixteenth Nineteen Hundred and Twelve. The menu included Beverly Oysters, Green Turtle Soup, Mignons of Beef ala Cincinnati, Washington Sorbet, Roast Plover, Philippine Salad, United States Cream, Assorted Cakes, Panama Coffee. The owner said it was passed to him by relatives from Monroeton. The invitation is signed by President Taft. Kotasek valued it at $3,000. Taft was president from 1909 to 1913.
The Sayre Historical Society is located at 103 South Lehigh Avenue in Historic Downtown Sayre. Visit us on Facebook for more information.
Photo caption. Barb Kotasek examines the William Howard Taft dinner invitation.
The sixth Annual Antique Appraisal Day will be held at the Sayre Historical Society on Saturday July 6. Barbara Kotasek the capable and entertaining coordinator of the Owego Elks Emporium will once again be the appraiser for this successful event. Ms. Kotasek is very knowledgeable and gives the audience a very vivid description of the item along with today’s value. Over the years that the Sayre Historical Society has been hosting this event some very unusual and rare items have been presented for appraisal. The event will be held under a tent on the front lawn of the Sayre Museum located at 103 South Lehigh Avenue in Historic Downtown Sayre. Registration begins at 10 am and the appraisals begin at 11 am and go in the sequence of the registration numbers. The appraisal fee for Sayre Historical Society members is $3 per item and $5 per item for nonmembers.
Photo caption Barbara Kotasek is pictured examining a Rosewood Pottery bowl at an earlier SHS Appraisal Day.
Sayre Historical Society rotating exhibit for July and August will be an amazing display of quilts. Many of the quilts date back to the early 1900s and are all hand stitched and quilted with a variety of patterns and interesting fabrics used to piece the quilt together. All of the quilts were made in Bradford County. Pictured are Mary Lou Palmer and Henry Farley examining a "Crazy Quilt" that has some fascinating designs. The quilts will be located in the second floor rotating exhibit room of the museum,
Sayre Museum Trustees visit with a member of the Lacey Family during Sayre History Day.
Pictured is George Goble who attended Sayre History Day at the Sayre Historical Society Museum on Saturday June 1, George who is 94 years old brought in a copy of Flags Diamonds and Statues a railroad magazine that featured an article about George. George started working for the Lehigh Valley Railroad in 1944 and retired in 1989. He said the author of the article is 93 years old and that they chat on the phone from time to time. The steady flow of visitors to the museum on Saturday brought some very interesting and rare items, some to be shown and some given to the museum. One item that came from the Lacey family, a three-generation family of railroaders, was an Instructograph which is a machine used to teach Morse Code complete with the original instructional tapes. The Lacey’s also gave a photograph of the interior of the Sayre Station that shows the telegraph area of the building circa 1900 another real treasure for the society,
Sayre History Day is this Saturday June 1, Come check out the exhibits and bring along your favorite piece of Sayre History to show. 10 am to 2pm at the Sayre Historical Society Museum 103 South Lehigh Avenue in Historic Downtown Sayre, PA
Remember those who have gone before us on this Memorial Day.
AMERICA250 BRADFORD COUNTY KICK OFF
Bradford County officially kicked off planning for the Semiquincentennial of the United States at a meeting held at the Bradford County Emergency Management Center in North Towanda. Henry Farley, who was appointed to the role of Bradford County Representative to America250 PA in 2021, has been attending the meetings of the organization and coordinating efforts on behalf of the commission in Bradford Country.
Farley led the meeting on Thursday, May 23. He gave a power point presentation on the activities in the county that have occurred over the past three years. He then showed slides of the Bradford County Bicentennial celebration in 2012 and the activities staged around it. The final portion of his presentation was ideas for events that can occur in 2026.
There was a great deal of discussion around the ideas and moving forward.
Attendees included the Wyalusing Valley Museum, Sayre Historical Society, Tioga Point Museum, Bradford County Historical Society, LeRoy Heritage Museum, Representative Gene Yaw’s office, Representative Tina Pickett, Cain Chamberlain of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, Robyn Chamberlain of the Bradford County Tourism Promotion Agency, David Jarrett of the Bradford County Regional Arts Council, Heather Manchester representing the Bradford County System Library, Cindy Holdridge of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Bradford County Commissioners Miller, McLinko and Gates, and Leo Malsky, Director of Operations for America 250PA.
Farley, who will be working with Bradford County Historical Society Executive Director, Matt Carl, for the planning of the events for the 250th Anniversary year announced that the next meeting of the Bradford County Commission will be June 20, at the Bradford County Historical Society at 6 pm. Interested people are welcome.
Photo caption (L to R): Bradford County Commissioner chairperson Daryl Miller; Leo Malsky, Director of Operations, America250PA; Henry Farley, Bradford County representative to America250PA; Cain Chamberlain, Executive Director Endless Mountains Heritage Region; County Commissioner Zachary Gates; and County Commissioner Doug McLinko.
The Guthrie Towanda Personal Care Home toured the Sayre Historical Society Museum on May 22, there were 21 people in the group
Sayre Historical Society to hold Sayre History Day on June 1
On Saturday June 1, the Sayre Historical Society located at 103 South Lehigh Avenue in Sayre will be holding their annual Sayre History Day. This is an opportunity for anyone who has a piece of Sayre history to bring it to the society to show and tell the story of the object or find out what the folks at the society might know about it.
Several local historians, including Jim Nobles and Henry Farley, will be on hand that day to help answer questions and provide avenues of possible research for your treasure.
The Sayre School Archives along with Jim Nobles, and Henry Farley will have displays on the grounds of the museum and the Sayre Historical Society Museum will be open for tours of the state-of-the-art museum dedicated to the history of Sayre, PA.
Tents will be set up on the lawn of the museum and all are welcome to bring items of Sayre history to show 1 item or several. This is a great opportunity to help tell the story of Sayre.
Sayre will be a busy place on June 1, the Sayre Business Association will be hosting its annual Street Fair on Desmond Street, and the Church of the Redeemer will be having a fair in Howard Elmer Park.
Hours 10 am to 2 pm
Sayre Historical Society opens for the 2024 season tomorrow May 11, at 10 am. Stop by and take in the amazing history of Sayre.
Sayre Historical Society Museum open May 11
The Sayre Historical Society will be opening its museum located in the Historic Old Lehigh Valley Passenger Station on S. Lehigh Avenue in Sayre on Saturday May 11.
The hours of operation for the museum for this season will be Wednesday from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. Group and private tours can be scheduled as well.
The Sayre Historical Society Museum is dedicated to the unique history of the Borough. Sayre, the youngest municipality in Bradford County was born out of necessity with the growing railroad industry in the area in 1872. It was not until 1891 that the Borough was incorporated.
The museum, through excellent professional exhibit design tells the story of Sayre the town, the world-famous Guthrie Clinic, churches, schools and industries, There is also a large exhibit that tells the visitor of the railroad growth in the community. Sayre at one time was one of the largest railroad repair facilities in the world. This is all housed in the former Lehigh Valley Railroad passenger station erected in 1881.
Several working model train exhibits are also available for the train enthusiast.
It is the policy of the Sayre Historical Society to keep exhibits and tours free to the public and the board of trustees work hard to support this. A calendar of events for 2024 is posted on the Sayre Historical Society page. In 2023 the Sayre Historical Society Museum had visitors from 19 states and 3 Foreign Countries.
Sayre Little League is 75 years old this year. The Sayre Historical Society is looking for any information, photos or memorabilia that might be available for a display and an article in the Quarterly magazine. Please contact us if you can help.
Thank you!
Sayre Historical Society will be opening for the season on May 11, 2024. Take time this year to come visit our state of the art museum that tells the story of Sayre the railroad and the town.
Our special visitors from Sayre's Past returned for the day. Representative Tina Pickett also joined us for the meeting
Annual Meeting was held March 9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfEtSgQ8tZ4
This is another short educational / scenic video by Outlaw Medic Photos (OutlawMedicPhotos.com), a Speedypickup production. This film was made using the DJI ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PlF3c_s0-o
Watch as Aaron tells a story of the sander valve we have on display, and recalls the accounts of the train crash that occurred in March of 1940 in which the ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQbZfg-zlNY
I went to the Sayre Historical Society Museum Model Train Day. I highly suggest you all come see the beautiful Railroad Station and Museum in Sayre, PA. (I m...
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