Bernard Hemmer came to the Old Forge region for his health following World War I. He learned sign-painting, worked as a local artist, and built a cottage colony on Park Avenue behind the Town of Webb School across from the Maple Ridge Ski area. Each one of the cottages was uniquely designed resembling the architectural style of European-style cottages. Bernard and his wife Mary operated the Hemmer Cottage Colony into the 1950's when they sold off the rental cottages to the Dolan Family from Syracuse, NY - descendants of Bernard's brother Alfred Hemmer.

Cottage Kent - the present Hemmer Cottage, was built in the winter of 1930-1931 by Bernard as a wedding gift for his sister Evangeline who married Austin Nelson, the son of Dr. Stuart Nelson. Dr. Nelson served as a local physician for more than 70 years and lived on Main St. in the building now occupied by the Adirondack Express newspaper. Cottage Kent was not sold to the Dolan family, but served as Bernard and Mary's home until Bernard's death and Mary was compelled to move to a nursing home.

Decorative half-logs applied in geometric patterns grace the exterior walls. Inside the cottage, Bernard's remarkable handiwork brings added charm to the cottage. A handmade brick fireplace dominates the cozy living room. The cottage is filled with wavy glass windows, particularly on the second floor studio. Arched doors are adorned with hand wrought hinges. Tiny nooks, and eyebrow window, hand painted kitchen cabinets, solid exposed beams, vintage light fixtures all add to the character of the of the interior. 

In the mid-1960's, the Town of Webb School purchased the Dolan rental cottages to build and addition to the school. The rental cottages were sold at auction and moved to many places around town or were dismantled. The Richard William's family from Utica purchased Cottage Kent (now called Hemmer Cottage) in the early 1990s. Following Richard's death, the family moved back to Utica and rented the cottage until the Town of Webb School purchased it in 1998 for another expansion project.

Cottage Kent was used by the construction engineer during the building of an addition to the Town of Webb School in 2000-2001. Early in the winter of 2001, the School Board put the cottage up for sale with a minimum bid set at $750. A group of local citizens, alarmed at the threat of losing this unique, historic structure, formed a committee to determine local interest. Hundreds of signatures of support were collected on a petition and money was donated to a fund set up to save the cottage. The committee presented the one and only bid of $751, which was accepted by the School Board, along with a one-year extension for its removal, allowing the committee to develop a plan and to raise funds.

The committee met regularly at the CAP-21 Office in Old Forge, NY. Hundreds of folks visited the cottage on weekend open houses. A fire crackled in the fireplace, hot cider was served - donations poured in to our steadily growing account.

The Town of Webb Historical Association Board agreed to serve as a not-for-profit affiliation for donations to the Hemmer Project in the autumn of 2001. In May of 2002, the Association was the recipient of the generous donation from Linda and Sarah Cohen of a magnificent lot at the corner of Park Ave. and South Shore as a new home for the Hemmer Cottage.

. Heritage tourism continues to grow in the Old Forge area. The grassroots effort to save Hemmer Cottage shines as a beacon to all our visitors that we are proud of our heritage and that we are willing to work and commit ourselves to preserving the unique architecture that helps define our unique Adirondack history.

The Team envisions utilizing the cottage and property as a place to share with residents and visitors; the history of early transportation along the Fulton Chain of Lakes, the story of the pioneer settlement of our community by Adirondack Guides, and as a facility for local craftsmen to demonstrate the folk arts and crafts uniquely Adirondack.

A natural curiosity draws people to the building's extraordinary design and they always seem grateful to find it open and someone available to tell the cottage's story! What was an ordinary - if not unsightly piece of property, has been transformed into one of the most photographed spots in Town. With a fleet of dedicated volunteer hosts, the Hemmer Team hopes to have the building open during the summer of 2004 with many new exhibits and programs.