Commodore Whitey Limes – January 1982
In 1904, Mr. Henry Sayre, (Bud’s grandfather) from Newark Ohio, built a two stall boathouse, with living quarters upstairs, on the site of the present work shop at the gas dock.
It was in these living quarters that three sons and a daughter were born. Their names were Earl, Fred, Raymond, later known as “Skeeter” and a girl Eva. Fred and Raymond later became “Sayre Brothers Marina,” Earl moved to Newark to make his livelihood and in Bud’s words, “Aunt Eva moved out west to Montana.”
After BLYC located on the present island, in 1906, Mr. Henry Sayre helped build the first bridge to the island. He was the first “Life Member” of BLYC. He was the first mainenance man, caretaker or whatever you want to call him of BLYC. For personal reasons, Mr. Fred Sayre, (Bud’s father) never became a member of BLYC.
On the location of the house between Commd. I. Rollit’s summer home and the workshop just west of Sayre’s boat hoist stood a restaurant that was operated by Mr. Early Sayre and his wife Blanche. It was open inthe Summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It was finally closed in 1929. Incidentally Mrs. Blanche Sayre (Bud’s aunt) was 102 years old when she passed away in 1979. Bud has one of the original counter stools in his office today. As a side light, Comm. Rollit’s summer home was known as the “Bachelor’s Club” in those days. Comm. Frisbee, (1918-1919, because of World War I) has his summer residence in the “Bachelor’s Club.”
In 1926, Mr. E. Wolfe Sr. went to New York to attend a boat show. While there he took a great fancy to the “Chris-Craft” line of boats. He told the company representatives at the boat show if he could get a “Chris-Craft” boat serviced at Buckeye Lake he, Mr. Wolfe, would purchase a boat. The boat manufacturer contacted Sayre Brothers and appointed them “Chris-Craft” agents for sales and service at Buckeye Lake.
In 1926, one of two tornadoes that struck Buckeye Lake left only three apartments standing over the then existing boat stalls, just east of Comm. Dye’s summer home. In 1969 after the 1968 “flood” these apartments were torn down and the present boat house was built.
The Fred Sayre family lived for many years over that is now the motor repair and hull finishing shop on the “Tow Path.”
Until 1968 with the coming of fiberglass boats and the introduction of the “AMF” line of boats the only type of boat that was sold and serviced by Sayre Brothers was the wooden class of boats.
Over the years, Sayre Brothers Marine has been a great help to BLYC. This is especially true at regattatime, such as the “Snowball Regatta.” The hauling in and hauling out of the contestants’ boats is a great help.
So you see, that before there was a Yacht Club, there was a Sayre Marina.
