Sharon L. Gammell, 66, of Belgrade died at St. Cloud Hospital Sunday, Dec. 16. Gammell was a longtime owner of Annandale’s historic Thayer Hotel, turning it into a bed and breakfast in 1993 and operating it until 2010. The hotel’s current owner, Katherine Owens, listed it for sale in June and it remains on the market through Oak Realty.
As the proprietor of Thayer’s Bed and Breakfast, Gammell gained a reputation for gourmet cooking and her love of friends and cats. She also officiated weddings and was ordained in the Universal Life Church. When asked what attracted her to the Thayer, Gammell once said, "The first time my husband, Warren, and I walked into this building in early 1993, I knew I had to have it – even though the place was a mess …"
Murder mystery dinners
Gammell used the Thayer as a venue for her psychic medium and ghostly adventures services as well as hosting murder mystery dinners. She grew up on the east side of St. Paul, and was self-described as an internationally known and trusted psychic, intuitive guide, life coach and teacher. She declared her services as "intuitive" life coaching and set out to assist clients in finding clarity, direction and understanding a their soul’s purpose.
She loved organizing murder mysteries at the Thayer and later in her career she organized "Ghostly travel adventures" to other famous haunted B and B’s throughout the country such as the Lizzie Borden B and B in Fall River, Mass.
Gammell could be controversial. Shortly after she first took over in the early ’90s, she caused a stir by hosting an event that had male dancers as the main attraction.
According to Steve Prinsen, publisher of the Advocate, several people protested the event and it led city council members to rethink some of the city’s ordinances.
"I am not sure if she did that for publicity or what," Prinsen said. "She definitely was one to do her own thing."
Regardless of what could be described as her eccentricities, Gammell helped put the Thayer on the map in terms of establishing it as hotel haunted by cat ghosts (former pets of hers), her late husband Warren killed by a drunk driver in 1996, a former employee and the hotel’s original owners, Gus and Caroline Thayer, to name a few.
In October 2004, Jason DeRusha from WCCO-TV videotaped a night at the Thayer, which at the time, was billed as spending the night in a haunted hotel. The Thayer also has been featured in three books and a national magazine called "In Traveler" while under Gammell’s ownership.
Prior to Gammell’s ownership, no mention of the hauntings is made in the hotel’s storied history. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places, and a community effort in the 1980s saved it from destruction. "The Life and Times of AA Thayer and Caroline Thayer," was published about that time. It recalls the hotel’s heyday when travelers and workers kept the hotel occupied.
Funeral is Saturday
Gammell’s celebration of life is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 5, at The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo. A visitation is planned one hour prior to service at the funeral home. Gammell’s full obituary can be found under the "Obituaries" section of this website.