Robert H. Sayre
Encyclopedia
Robert Heysham Sayre was vice president and chief engineer of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
. He was also vice president and general manager of Bethlehem Iron Works, precursor of Bethlehem Steel Corporation
. The town of Sayre, Pennsylvania was named in his honor.
in rural Columbia County, Pennsylvania
. In 1828, the Sayre family moved to Mauch Chunk (now Jim Thorpe), Pennsylvania where William worked for the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company
as a lockmaster. Young Robert showed an early interest in construction and civil engineering.
in New Jersey. He also participated in the surveys and construction for the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway.
In 1854, Sayre was named Chief Engineer of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
, and he led the extension of that railroad northward and westward through Pennsylvania and New York State.
Sayre was one of the founders of the Bethlehem Iron Works, later the Bethlehem Steel
Company. He was responsible for the design and construction of the company's first iron works during the years 1861 through 1863. He became Vice President in 1891.
Sayre built a large house in Bethlehem and lived in it from 1858 until his death in 1907. Currently his house is known as the Sayre Mansion, and is in use as a bed-and-breakfast.
.
Sayre Observatory at Lehigh is named after him.
Lehigh Valley Railroad
The Lehigh Valley Railroad was one of a number of railroads built in the northeastern United States primarily to haul anthracite coal.It was authorized April 21, 1846 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and incorporated September 20, 1847 as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad...
. He was also vice president and general manager of Bethlehem Iron Works, precursor of Bethlehem Steel Corporation
Bethlehem Steel
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S...
. The town of Sayre, Pennsylvania was named in his honor.
Early life
Sayre was born on October 13, 1824 to William Heysham Sayre and Elizabeth Kent, his wife, on the Kent family's farm near BloomsburgBloomsburg, Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg is a town in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, 40 miles southwest of Wilkes Barre along the Susquehanna River. In 1900, the population of Bloomsburg stood at 6,170; in 1910, 7,413; in 1940, 9,799, and in 1990, 12,439. The population was 14,855 at the 2010 census...
in rural Columbia County, Pennsylvania
Columbia County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,151 people, 24,915 households, and 16,568 families residing in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile . There were 27,733 housing units at an average density of 57 per square mile...
. In 1828, the Sayre family moved to Mauch Chunk (now Jim Thorpe), Pennsylvania where William worked for the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company
Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company
The Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, also known in the Lehigh Valley as the Old Company, was a mining and transportation company which grew out of the Lehigh Coal Mine Company. It was created from the merger of the Lehigh Coal Company and the Lehigh Navigation Company.-Development:The Lehigh Coal...
as a lockmaster. Young Robert showed an early interest in construction and civil engineering.
Career
Sayre's first significant work in engineering was on the Morris CanalMorris Canal
The Morris Canal was an anthracite-carrying canal that incorporated a series of water-driven inclined planes in its course across northern New Jersey in the United States. It was in use for about a century — from the late 1820s to the 1920s....
in New Jersey. He also participated in the surveys and construction for the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway.
In 1854, Sayre was named Chief Engineer of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
Lehigh Valley Railroad
The Lehigh Valley Railroad was one of a number of railroads built in the northeastern United States primarily to haul anthracite coal.It was authorized April 21, 1846 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and incorporated September 20, 1847 as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad...
, and he led the extension of that railroad northward and westward through Pennsylvania and New York State.
Sayre was one of the founders of the Bethlehem Iron Works, later the Bethlehem Steel
Bethlehem Steel
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S...
Company. He was responsible for the design and construction of the company's first iron works during the years 1861 through 1863. He became Vice President in 1891.
Sayre built a large house in Bethlehem and lived in it from 1858 until his death in 1907. Currently his house is known as the Sayre Mansion, and is in use as a bed-and-breakfast.
Philanthropy
Sayre was a trustee of St. Luke's Hospital and a Charter Trustee of Lehigh UniversityLehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
.
Sayre Observatory at Lehigh is named after him.