Columbia Center in Herkimer County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Petrie’s Corners
Erected 1938 by State Education Department.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical date for this entry is September 17, 1778.
Location. 42° 55.957′ N, 75° 2.219′ W. Marker is in Columbia Center, New York, in Herkimer County. Marker is at the intersection of Jordanville Road (County Route 18) and McKoons Road (County Route 101), on the right when traveling east on Jordanville Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ilion NY 13357, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Masonic Lodge (approx. 0.9 miles away); Brighton (approx. 4˝ miles away); Public Library (approx. 4.7 miles away); Trail of Scout (approx. 5.4 miles away); Ilion Civil War Memorial (approx. 5˝ miles away); Mohawk’s First Fire Station (approx. 5.6 miles away); Mohawk’s First Public School (approx. 5.6 miles away); Richfield Civil War Memorial (approx. 5.8 miles away).
Regarding Petrie’s Corners. In September 1778 Brant's forces attacked Percifer Carr farm where rebel/patriotic scouts under Adam Helmer were located. Three of the scouts were killed; Helmer took off running to the north-east, through the hills, toward Schuyler Lake and then north to Andrustown (near present-day Jordanville, New York) where he warned his sister's family of the impending raid and obtained fresh footwear. He also warned settlers at Columbia and Petrie's Corners, most of whom then fled to safety at Fort Dayton. When Helmer arrived at the fort, severely torn up from his run, he told Colonel Peter Bellinger, the commander of the fort, that he had counted at least 200 of the attackers en route to the valley. The straight-line distance from Carr's farm to Fort Dayton is about thirty miles, and Helmer's winding and hilly route was far from straight. It was said that Helmer then slept for 36 hours straight. During his sleep, on September 17, 1778, the farms of the area were destroyed by Brant's raid. The total loss of property in the raid was reported as: 63 houses, 59 barns, full of grain, 3 grist mills, 235 horses, 229 horned cattle, 279 sheep, and 93 oxen. Only two men were reported killed in the attack, one by refusing to leave his home when warned. (Wikipedia)
Also see . . . Attack on German Flatts. (Submitted on October 21, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 20, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 432 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 20, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 21, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.