The Schoharie County Amateur Radio Association (SCARA) was established by a group of Schoharie County amateurs along with a few from "just over the County line" in 1946, after operating restrictions were lifted post-World War II. The foundation of the Association was on "being prepared" and spent its formative years dedicated to the Civil Defense (CD) and RACES programs. All club members at that time were dual-registered with RACES.

In May 1953, the organization began its official ARRL affiliation and continued expanding its ability and knowledge, moving away from AM VHF transmissions to FM (which worked slightly better over our terrain) and converting commercial radio gear to use as repeaters in the 1960s with the help of Bob Kling W2KQW/SK. His TV repair shop and Union College electronics degree proved invaluable to building the first repeater. 

The late 1960s saw the DEC declare the Petersburg Mountain fire tower surplus. SCARA members contacted the DEC and were able to negotiate a 99-year lease for use of the tower. Official County communications were broadcast from a different site and were more susceptible to the terrain. Members rode along with Sheriff's deputies and proved our location would eliminate many of their "dead zones" and provide better coverage. The association negotiated with the Sheriff to have his department relocate to Petersburgh provided our antenna would - in perpetuity - always have the high spot on whatever tower stands. The County would "take over the lease" and maintain the tower and facility.

SCARA continues to work in concert with the Schoharie County Office of Emergency Services and other public safety branches of County government. Most recently, the club received a grant for $15,000 to create portable HF/VHF/UHF communications kits to be deployed in emergencies. Coupled with the repeater location, the communications vehicle assigned to RACES, and additional club-owned equipment, SCARA is ready for public service, emergency communications, and educational assignments within Schoharie County.