by Jay Lawson
With the Town of Webb Historical Association’s (TOWHA) Board of Trustees informing its members that the organization can no longer shoulder the financial burden of the Hemmer Cottage, the Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) has stepped forward to help insure the preservation and protection of the historic structure.
Board of Trustees Presi-dent Stuart deCamp sent a letter, dated January 27, describing TOWHA’s inability to continue as Hemmer Cottage’s steward.
Extensive deliberations led the trustees to feel that a sale of Hemmer is in the best interest of TOWHA’s membership and the long term financial well-being of TOWHA, according to deCamp.
DeCamp’s letter requested input on the matter from the membership, that would be considered in the board’s final decision on the matter.
Subsequently, Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) was asked for guidance by some local stakeholders.
Steven Engelhart, Exec-utive Director of AARCH, said in a letter to TOWHA’s Board of Trustees, that he empathizes with the circumstances that resulted in TOWHA’s decision to sell Hemmer Cottage.
“I do understand that nonprofits go through cycles of prosperity and struggle (usually the latter) and have different goals from decade to decade, so in general terms I understand that such decisions sometimes have to be made,” Engelhart said.
The community’s effort to move and restore Hemmer has been closely followed by AARCH, according to Engelhart.
Engelhart said he came to Old Forge early on to see whether AARCH should become involved in the project.
“We eventually recognized the Town of Webb Historical Association’s work to save and restore the Hemmer Cottage by giving the association an AARCH Preservation Award in 2005,” he said.
The Hemmer Cottage has also served as a model for other communities as they seek to save historic structures, according to Engelhart.
“We have…used this project countless times as an example of how a community can rally around the preservation of a valuable historic property and find a way to make it a central part of the community again,” he said.
Hemmer Cottage was bought with donated funds in in December 2001.
Grant monies, including $25,000 awarded by AARCH, paid for Hemmer’s move to a land parcel donated by Sarah and Linda Cohen.
Now, in 2016, as TOWHA works to divest itself of Hemmer, Engelbrecht said AARCH is concerned that a 15-year preservation mission is being abandoned.
Protective measures can be easily put in place and would ensure Hemmer’s long-term preservation, according to Engelbrecht.
A preservation easement on the property or a covenant to the deed are all that is needed, he said.
“AARCH has some experience in drafting and holding preservation easements and would be happy to work with the TOWHA to draft such an easement or covenant language for the Hemmer Cottage,” Engelbrecht said.
Such measures could lessen the market value somewhat, but fetching top dollar should not be of paramount importance to historical associations, according to Engelbrecht.
“[Hemmer Cottage] is an artifact just like the paintings, jewelry, tools, and folk objects…in your collection. And whether it was explicit or implicit, it seems that the individuals, businesses, and the state agency that provided funding for this project all assumed that it was for the long term preservation of the structure and for the public good embodied in this,” he said.
The Town of Webb Historical Association will be accepting comments from its membership through February 26th.
