Submitted photo Last year's 120th Birthday Celebration for the Borough of Sayre included presentations by County Commissioner Mark Smith, State Rep. Tina Pickett and Sayre Mayor Denny Thomas.
Happy Birthday, Sayre!
Published: January 27, 2012
On Jan. 27, the Borough of Sayre was 121 years old.
According to historical documents from 1890 and 1891, the Borough of Sayre, by order of the Bradford County Court, became an incorporated Borough within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on Jan. 27, 1891. Prior to that date, Sayre was a part of Athens Township.
The court order was preceded by a petition drive which was presented by the court to a grand jury. The grand jury was assigned the task of investigating whether or not the request within the petition complied with all aspects of state law. The grand jury found the request was in compliance and recommended that the court approve the incorporation of Sayre as a borough.
Over the next several weeks, the matters of creating governance for the borough were completed. The Sayre Borough Council held its first meeting on March 2, 1891 with its first council members, Lewis Eighmey, W.H. Flory, G.A. Kennedy, George M. Peters, D.A. Utter, and Alfred Zeller. James N. Weaver was Sayre's first Burgess (Mayor).
An event was held last year at the Sayre Historical Society Museum to mark the 120th birthday of Sayre. At that event, Mayor Denny Thomas proclaimed Jan. 27 through Jan. 31 of 2011, and each year thereafter, as Sayre History Days in the Borough of Sayre. While there is no special event planned this year, the board of the Sayre Historical Society could not let the dates pass without at least saying: Happy Birthday, Sayre!
The museum is currently closed for the winter and will reopen in April 2012. However, special tours can be arranged by calling (570) 882-8221; leave a message and someone will return your call.
The Sayre Historical Society is a Bradford County United Way recipient.
Submitted by the Sayre Historical Society