Parks, Canteen & Schools

Parks, Canteen and Schools. . , Early in the life of Sayre, Mr. Howard Elmer, Sayre's founder, in developing a planned community, arranged for two public parks. The Desmond Street Park (Image No. 1) was graded and set with trees in 1882. Over the years, the trees matured as the park was being appreciated by many Desmond Street shoppers and travelers leaving the Passenger Station of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. It was used for many community events. This public park ended in 1955. Shortly thereafter a commercial store, J. J. Newberry Company Department Store, was constructed. Today medical offices occupy the space. , During W.W. I, soldiers from troop trains traveling on the Lehigh Valley Railroad and stopping at the Sayre Canteen, which was located beside the Passenger Station, did marching drills in the park as can be seen in Image No. 2. The Sayre Canteen of the American Red Cross was staffed by volunteers responding day and night to reports of arriving troop trains. All for free, the troops were served sandwiches, fruits, baked goods, coffee, and small personal items. The canteen continued service to returning military personnel following the war. By the time it ended in 1919, it had served over 143,000 troops. , Howard Elmer Park (Image No. 3) eventually named for Sayre's founder, has been a Sayre park since the late 1870s. Prominent in the park since 1886 is its bandstand. Added following W.W. I was the Doughboy Monument with the names of Sayre's 12 war dead. More recently the names have been added for the 51 deaths in W.W. II, three in Korea, and three in Vietnam. The W.W. I cannon (Image No. 4) was removed as an act of patriotism during W.W. II for its scrap value with the metal reused in the defense of our country. Other memorials in Howard Elmer Park include the Guthrie Boulder to remember Dr. Donald Guthrie of medical fame in Sayre, a monument to remember the Lehigh Valley Railroad, a water fountain in memory of Howard Elmer, a monument to volunteer firefighters along with a time capsule, and the Battle Cross Tribute Monument dedicated to "all the brave men and women who have honorably served our great nation." Over the years Howard Elmer Park has hosted band concerts, prayer gatherings, political rallies, arts fairs, patriotic events, Flag Day ceremonies, arrivals of Santa Claus, and weddings. , Keystone Park (Image No. 5) was an amusement park located just off North Keystone Avenue near Sayre's border with South Waverly. It was a popular attraction along the route of the Waverly, Sayre and Athens Trolley from 1910 until ending a few years after the end of the trolley service in 1930. Rides included a figure eight roller coaster and a carousel with many additional features in its rustic setting. , Early public elementary schools in Sayre were spread throughout the neighborhoods of Sayre and named accordingly , Elmer Avenue, Milltown, East Side, and Fourth Ward. The Epiphany parochial school was added in 1929. Image No. 6 shows the Sayre High School, east of the ponds, in use from 1891 to 1929 when the current high school west of the ponds opened. The former high school then was used as a Community Center and later reopened as the Central Elementary School. It was demolished after the opening of the H. Austin Snyder Elementary School. , (For the rest of the story visit the Sayre Historical Society Museum.).