History of Edmeston, New York/1930s

1937

Scout’s Run to Warn Of Peril To Be Marked Edmeston Local June 25, 1937.

Plans are underway already to mark the 160th anniversary next summer of the run of John Adam Helmer, a Revolutionary War scout, from West Edmeston to Fort Herkimer of the imminent approach of enemies, it was learned this week. The exact course followed by the scout in his run, which is reminiscent of that from Marathon and that of Paul Revere.

Harry Bush of Canajoharie is chairman of the committee set up by the Mohawk Valley towns association to lay plans for the observance. Mr. Bush is now awaiting the historic facts from a descendant of Helmer in order that the exact route may be followed.

The run, which is famous over a wide territory and part of the lore of the Mohawk Valley, will go down in the annals of that section. It recently was brought before the eyes of the reading public in "Drums Along the Mohawk", Walter D. Edmonds’ best selling work and also was mentioned by the same author in a recent nationally known magazine article.

Question Over Famous Run Is Finally Solved — Authentic Account of Adam Helmer’s Feat by a Descendant, Edmeston Local, Oct 12, 1937.

Historical Setting — Start at Edmeston Manor, South East Outpost of Otsego Nearest Indian Stronghold.

The St. Johnsville Enterprise News of Wed., Aug. 4th, published an account of Adam Helmer’s heroic run of September 16, 1778, made to save the German Flats settlers from Brant’s raiders. Helmer’s run was successful and only two of the people of the western Mohawk Valley settlements met death when the red and white savages destroyed houses, barns and crops.

"Adam Helmer’s Famous Run" is the work of Mrs. Mildred R. Staunton, a teacher of Mount Vernon and a great-great-granddaughter of Scout Adam Helmer. As the Enterprise News Truly says: "It is a valuable contribution to Mohawk Valley history." Leu D. MacWethy, editor of the Enterprise News, has done a real public service in securing and publishing this thrilling account, which should have printing in pamphlet form. Through his courtesy this paper is enabled to publish Mrs. Staunton’s article.

Before the publication of Mrs. Staunton’s description, there had been many versions of Helmer’s run — as to where it started and the route taken. Her account now clears up the discrepancies and contradictions and the argument over the feat made famous in the popular novel "Drums Along the Mohawk". One of these, which affected the length of Helmer’s run, or seemed to, was the statement in the Gov. Clinton papers, Vol. 4, p 39, that Helmer lay in bushes "about nine miles south of German Flatts and saw the enemy pass." This was so but the brief report mentioned does not say that Helmer had previously run about 25 miles, as Mrs. Staunton’s account brings out.

Following is Mrs. Staunton’s article in full.

Adam Helmer's Famous Run by Mildred R. Staunton (external site)

1938

D.A.R. Marker in Plot Near West Edmeston — Edmeston Local June 24, 1938.

The marker erected by the Col. Israel Angell Chapter DAR. Of New Berlin on the Carr farm two miles south of West Edmeston and dedicated June 19, 1914, has been moved to a plot 12 by 20 feet farther south to the new road to South Edmeston.

The old road has been abandoned. The inscription on the tablet reads: "In memory of the Three Scouts killed on the estate of Percifer Carr by Brandt’s Indians. September 1778. Erected by the Col. Israel Angell Chapter, N.S., D.A.R."

It is fenced on three sides and is accessible from the highway. The Carr farm is famous for the beautiful old dishes unearthed on it a few years ago. They were buried by the Carr family in the Revolutionary times when Brandt made his raid. (The spelling of the name Brant and Brandt are interchangeable)

Albert Talbot Buys Interest in Theater — July 1, 1938 Edmeston Local

Albert Talbot has bought of A.J. Menard his interest in the theater business and the opera block. Possession was given last week. Mr. Talbot has conducted a farm near Burlington Flats for a number of years but plans to move to Edmeston to make his permanent home. It will be recalled that Mr. Talbot and Mr. Milton Shatzel, now of Edmeston, started the moving picture business in Edmeston way back in the silent picture days. They held their first shows in the Grange Hall, starting about 1918, and later moving the business to its present location. Mr. Talbot continued in the business until about 1924 when he removed to his farm at Burlington Flats.

Motorcade to Mark Famous Run — Adam Helmer’s Trip Started at the Carr Farm, Edmeston Local September 2, 1938.

A 35-mile run through Ilion which saved Fort Herkimer settlers from an Indian massacre in 1778, will be commemorated this month by a motorcade which will cover the same historic route.

The hero was Scout Adam Helmer, who ran from the Carr farm, Unadilla River, near South Edmeston, to Fort Herkimer, after eluding a band of redskins who were on his trail and intent on wiping out the Herkimer settlers.

Helmer was one of eight scouts dispatched by Col. Peter Bellinger, commander at Fort Herkimer, to attempt to locate a party of Brandt’s Tories and Indians. About 10 a.m. September 16, 1778, Helmer and his companions were surprised by a war party of 40 savages who attacked them at a spring on the Carr farm. They were driven into the Unadilla River, but Helmer finally escaped and started his dash to Herkimer.