Dave Smith, who inspired a benefit run for 18 years, is pictured at a surprise assembly held at Sayre High School in 1980. The picture, from the 1980 Sayrenade yearbook, is one of many featured in the latest Quarterly history magazine.
The winter issue of the Sayre Historical Society Quarterly features stories on the Dave Smith Run, a grandfather clock and a pen and ink drawing that has some mystery attached to it.
The exhibit “Remembering the Dave Smith Run” closed Dec. 20 at the Sayre Historical Society and the inspiring story of young Dave Smith is the cover story. Featuring rare photographs from longtime race participants Dale Smith and Randy Felt, the story recounts the trials and triumphs of the annual benefit race.
The run, which started in 1984 as a celebration of Dave Smith’s life following his death on Dec. 26, 1983, raised $600,000 over 18 years. The race ended in 2001 following a dispute with the American Cancer Society.
Among the unique photographic views are a series of pictures from the third annual race held in 1986, another showing several runners including brothers Eric and Craig Childs, a picture showing former Evening Times columnist Gene Paluzzi and another showcasing a hot rod car driven by Monty Hughes and Norm Catlin in the early 1990’s.
Dale Smith credits his parents, including his mother Joan, for the success of the benefit event.
“She was really able to encourage people to participate in different ways,” he said. “She was determined and had a way to get people involved.”
A memorial boulder donated by the Valley Kiwanis in 2001 at the Sayre High School track recognizes the efforts of the Smith family “for their dedication to the fight against cancer.”
The story on the grandfather clock includes a photograph of the unique timepiece, which was donated by Howard Blair Atwood. His grandfather, William Nelson Atwood, received the clock upon his retirement from the Lehigh Valley Railroad in 1943. A newspaper account from the Oct. 14, 1943 issue of the Waverly Sun describes the retirement of William Atwood and his brother George, who both worked for the Lehigh. According to the article, the Atwood brothers were born at Camptown, Pa. but were separated when their mother died. William stayed in Camptown but his brother was sent to a farm on Spring Hill, according to the account.
A third item in the Quarterly tells the story of Ray Hausknecht, a 1941 graduate of Sayre High School, a World War II veteran and an employee of the Railroad Express Agency (REA) for many years. Several items that belonged to Mr. Hausknecht were donated to the historical society by his son, Stephen Hausknecht of Wilkes-Barre.
A photograph of Ray Hausknecht from World War II accompanies the story along with a photograph of Ray with a horse that belonged to Dr. Donald Guthrie. Ray was a groomer for Dr. Guthrie’s horse. A safe driving award Ray received while an employee of the REA is also included with the story.
A photograph reproduced in the center section of the Quarterly dates back to 1892 and shows the general office staff of the railroad at Sayre. The names of the men are included.
A sketch of a Lehigh Valley Railroad telegrapher at work in a station is reproduced along with an account of the possible artist. The sketch was the only one in a sketch book donated by Edwin Mitchell on behalf of Roland Salmi of Chemung. The sketch is believed to have been drawn by the late John Salmi of Lockwood, who was a graduate of Cornell University and worked on the research staff at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. He had an interest in architecture and the sketch was found among family papers in the Salmi family home.
Finally, the back cover of the Quarterly pictures members of Sayre Troop 17 (Epiphany) during a work bee at the historic Rest Cemetery in Sayre. The boys had attended the Philmont Scout Ranch and are working to complete requirements for a 50-Miler Award. Scoutmaster Cliff Cyr was assisted by Nick Barry, Justin Bailey, Matt D’Ortona, Kamren Curtis, Teddy Steele and Connor Simpson.
The Quarterly is mailed four times per year to members of the Sayre Historical Society as part of their membership benefits. Individual copies are available at the museum and Carl’s Newsstand in Sayre.
The museum closed for the season on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015 and will reopen on Saturday, April 2, 2016.
The Sayre Historical Society is a non-profit historic preservation organization staffed by volunteers and supported by funding from the United Way.
The group recently received the 2015 Clement Heverly Outstanding Service Award presented by the Bradford County Historical Society.
