By CHRISSY PRICHARD

Express News Staff

Members of the Hemmer Cottage Preservation Team, the Town of Webb Historical Association, and the community gathered on Thursday, July 19, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Hemmer Cottage’s move from where it once stood behind the Town of Webb School, to where it now stands overlooking Old Forge Pond.

The building was the last piece of a cottage colony that was built on Park Avenue by artist Bernard Hemmer in the 1930s, each cottage modeled after the architecture of a different European country. The cottage colony, which rented to tourists, was operated by Hemmer and his wife, Mary, and later by the Dolan Family, descendants of Bernard’s brother, Alfred.

During his years spent in Old Forge, Bernard Hemmer and his family left their mark on the community in many ways. His wife authored the school’s alma mater that is still sung today. Bernard was an artist, a sign painter and a craftsman. Much of his work was produced in his studio at “Cottage Kent,” including many well known paintings. His painting, “Remembering the Adirondacks” was painted here, depicting the view of Old Forge Pond from a vantage point almost identical to where the cottage stands now.

In the mid 1960s, the Town of Webb School purchased the cottage colony to make room for an addition to the school. At that time, all but one of the cottages were sold at auction and moved to other area locations or dismantled.  

The Cottage Kent remained for many years and was purchased by the Town of Webb School in 1998. To make room for another building expansion, the school board put the cottage up for auction in 2001, with a minimum bid of $750.

A group of community members got together to try and find a way to preserve the unique historic cottage. “It was a moment in time when things just stopped. We realized that something needed to be done,” said Lani Ulrich. “We knew it was the right thing to do. We needed to save this piece of history.”

The group garnered the support of hundreds of community members and worked together to raise funds to purchase the cottage. The committee presented the only bid, purchasing the building for $751.

At the time, the committee did not have a plan for moving the cottage, nor did they know where it would be moved to. All they knew was they didn’t want to see it torn down. They were given about a year to make a plan to have the cottage relocated. The Hemmer Cottage Preservation Team, co-chaired by Ulrich (representing CAP-21), Peg Masters (representing the Town of Webb Historical Association), and Chip Kiefer (representing the Town of Webb Publicity Department) worked to find a solution.

Ultimately, sisters Linda and Sarah Cohen of Old Forge donated the property for the cottage, on the corner of Park Avenue and South Shore Road overlooking Old Forge Pond. State Senator Raymond Meier helped secure a $25,000 grant to cover the cost of moving the structure. The Cottage Kent, now dubbed the Hemmer Cottage, was moved down Park Avenue on May 31, 2002.

This was a huge milestone in the preservation of the cottage, but there was still a lot of work to be done. A foundation needed to be built under the cottage, and issues like utilities, heating, landscaping, painting, chimney repairs and more needed to be addressed. Once again local citizens worked tirelessly to raise funds, and area businesses lent a hand to get the cottage settled into its new home. A Certificate of Occupancy was issued in 2004.

The Hemmer Cottage is owned and operated by the Town of Webb Historical Association. The main floor is used for Historical Association events and exhibits. The studio floor and upper level house the CAP-21 offices.

Fundraising and work on the cottage is a never-ending process. The restoration is ongoing, and plans for enhanced landscaping, parking, and public restrooms are on the list of things to tackle in the future.

At the 10th Anniversary Celebration, those who played a part in the process of saving this piece of our community’s history took the opportunity to look back on all they have accomplished and all the obstacles that were overcome along the way.

The way that community members worked together to fulfill their vision of preserving the Hemmer Cottage is one of many examples of local residents combining their efforts to accomplish a seemingly impossible task. When folks around here set their minds to something, there’s not much that will stand in their way.

Helen Hemmer, widow of Bernard and Mary’s son William, attended the anniversary, along with members of her extended family. She expressed her thanks and what it means to her to have the Hemmer Cottage remain as a part of the community. “It brings to life for me the whole meaning of community. What you have together and the things you share, is really the backbone of our country,” she said.

The Hemmer Cottage now serves as a place where ideas are born and the future of our community and the Adirondacks is envisioned. This “second life” for the cottage is very rewarding to those who helped with the preservation. Rather than losing a piece of history, it will play a part in our future. Ulrich says moving the cottage and restoring it was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the cottage’s ability to bring about positive change. For example, the Common Ground Alliance was formed at a meeting that took place here. “The ripple effect has been wonderful. The things that have occurred here impact all of us, and will continue into the future,” she said.