NEW YORK LOOKOUTS
PETERSBURG MOUNTAIN
Schoharie County
July 28, 1939: "R. Milton Hick of Oneonta, district forester, announced today that a 65-foot fire observation tower will be constructed shortly on Petersburg mountain, town of Fulton, Schoharie county." (Press and Sun-Bulletin)
April 1, 1953: "In meeting with Mr. Lowe and Air Force defense officials, the fire observers agreed to scan the skies and report to the Albany Filter Center, starting today. Mrs. Robert Borst of Cobleskill at Petersburg Tower." (The Oneonta Star)
August 20, 1953: "Six-year-old James C. Reimlinger of Irvington, N.J., fell 85 feet to his death from a fire observation tower today.
Watching were his father, Conrad J. Reimlinger, 33; his sister Ruth, 15, and brother Theodore, 7.
The accident occurred as the three children reached the top of the Mt. Petersburg tower, a conservation dept. forest lookout three miles south of this community in the foothills of the Catskill mountains.
The father was watching from the ground.
State Police said the boy apparently slipped from the platform as he was about to enter the shack atop the tower. Trooper said no one saw the boy slip, but others saw him hurtle down, strike the tower and then fall to earth." (The Oneonta Star)
August 9, 1962: "Mrs. Lorna Borst, forest fire observer at Petersburg Mountain fire tower in Schoharie County, and Robert Borst recently spent a day visiting Helen Ellett at Dickinson Hill fire tower." (The Troy Record)
May 22, 1973: "The Petersburgh fire tower was purchased for $10.
Purchase of the fire tower for communication purposes was recommended by the Sheriff's Department and the Civil Defense Department, which man the communications system for fire, police and rescue services in the county.
The resolution to purchase was tabled the previous month in order to obtain more information. Arthur Berard, supervisor from Cobleskill reintroduced the issue at the recent meeting and purchase was approved unanimously.
Although the resolution earmarks the use for a radio club, which will install the required fence, Supervisor William Munz of Sharon explained that the tower may be needed for the county system which is in need of repair.
The fire tower is located on the highest elevation in the south of the county on Petersburg mountain.
The stipulations for the purchase were that the county remove the tower, if no longer needed, insurance be provided and repairs be made, if needed." (Schenectady Gazette)
January 16, 1974: "Six juveniles from the Cobleskill area were arrested late Sunday for allegedly breaking into the communications center at the Petersburg fire tower in Schoharie County.
The fire tower was purchased last year by the Schoharie County government for $10, to be used by the Schoharie County Amateur Radio group. The radio group provides communications for the county in cases of emergencies and has since complained of vandalism at the tower which they had renovated to serve their purpose.
The six youths, ranging from age 16 to 17, were arrested by Trooper Pat Donnelly of the Warnerville State Police substation in connection with a break-in at the tower Friday. They were arraigned before Justice Merton Utter of Richmondville and were released in the custody of their parents waiting further court action." (Schenectady Gazette)
DESIGNATION - PETERSBURG FIRETOWER
PID - NA2021
STATE/COUNTY- NY/SCHOHARIE
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - COBLESKILL (1994)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1942 (KBJ)
THIS INTERSECTION STATION IS LOCATED ABOUT 3-1/2 MILES SSE OF
COBLESKILL AND ABOUT 2 MILES SE OF WARNERVILLE ON A HIGH HILL
CALLED PETERSBURG MOUNTAIN, 26.05 FEET N OF STATION PETERSBURG,
53.4 FEET SE OF THE SE CORNER OF THE HOUSE AND ON LAND OWNED
BY THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE POINT OBSERVED WAS THE PEAK OF THE
ROOF.
TO REACH FROM THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF
HIGHWAYS 7, 10, AND 145 IN COBLESKILL GO SOUTHWESTERLY ON
HIGHWAY 7 TOWARDS RICHMONDVILLE 1.75 MILES TO A SURFACED ROAD
AT THE WARNERVILLE POST OFFICE, TURN LEFT ON SURFACED ROAD AND
GO 2.85 MILES TO A Y-ROAD AND A SIGN READING OBSERVATION TOWER,
TURN LEFT ON GRAVEL ROAD AND GO 0.6 MILE TO A TRACK ROAD RIGHT,
TURN RIGHT ON TRACK ROAD AND GO 1.3 MILES TO TRACK ROAD LEFT,
TURN LEFT AND GO 0.45 MILE TO FIRE TOWER.