Born: 1870
Died: December 11, 1951
Married: Charles Hamer[?]
Children: Marian Von Brandt (d. 1932)
Katherine Hamer came to Saranac Lake for her daughter's health. She operated private commercial tuberculosis sanatoria, the last called Hamer's Tourist Home at 60 Lake Flower Avenue.
Lake Placid News, December 14, 1951
Saranac Lake Woman Ends life in Lake
Reported missing from her home, 8 Dorsey street, Saranac Lake, where she lived alone, at 8 p.m. Monday, the body of Mrs. Katherine Hamer, 84, was recovered from Lake Flower at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday by Saranac Lake police.
Tuesday afternoon Coroner Harold Greenier of Bloomingdale issued a verdict of suicide, by drowning. He stated that death had occurred about 6 p.m. Monday. The body was released to the Fortune Funeral Home.
Mrs. Hamer, a resident here many years, was last seen alive by friends about 8 p.m. Monday. She was reported to have been despondent. Her disappearance to police was reported by a friend, Mary Mullen Wood.
Following an all night search of the village, Police Chief William Wallace and Patrolman Richard Jewtraw noted tracks Tuesday morning in the snow at the edge of the lake opposite 46 Lake Flower avenue.
Investigating they found her body fully clothed and in a black fur coat between a dock and a boathouse in about 18 inches of water.
Mrs. Hamer, a native of Germany, came to this village from New York City for her daughter's health. Her daughter, Miss Marian Von Brandt, died here in 1932.
For several years she operated private sanatoriums in the village and her last business was a tourist home at 60 Lake Flower avenue, which she sold after her health failed.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, February 26, 1952
Mrs. Hamer Leaves $5,000 for Charities
An estate of approximately $5,000 left by the late Mrs. Katherine Hamer, long time resident of Saranac Lake, will be distributed to charities here according to the terms of her will filed for probate in Malone.
Trustees named by Mrs. Hamer to decide how the money will be distributed are Mrs. Mary Mullin Wood, of the Saranac Lake Society for the Control of Tuberculosis, George LaPan, the banker, and John A. Bazinet, the jeweler.
The will was filed for probate by Clifford W. McCormick, executor. Mr. McCormick said today that several claims made against the estate have been or will be ruled against.
Mrs. Hamer, who was 84 years old, died here from drowning and exposure the night of last December 10. Her body was recovered the next morning on the shore of Lake Flower. She had no known relatives.
