Montreat Minute November 5, 2021

Shhhh, It’s a Secret And We Need Your Help

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, the Town Council will be preparing and serving a luncheon feast for the staff on Tuesday, November 16 as a token of appreciation.

We are collecting “thank you’s” from cottagers and other friends and will present them to the staff at the luncheon. CLICK HERE to write a praise or thank you and we’ll make sure they receive your note. We know they will appreciate your appreciation!


Board of Adjustment Update

The Montreat Board of Adjustment met again yesterday, November 4, for the third session in the continued hearing of a Special Use Permit (SUP) request for 309 Collegiate Circle for a 40-room hotel and site improvements. The hearing was recorded and may be viewed by CLICKING HERE. The proceedings were not complete and are being continued to Wednesday, November 17, at 10:00am. The hearing will be held in the Town Hall Community Room, but unfortunately there will be extremely limited seating for the public. There will be seats for 15 people in the Community Room on a fist come, first serve basis. There will be an additional 10 seats in the overflow conference room at Town Hall.  For everyone else, arrangements have been made to live stream the meeting to the Moore Center, in the Thompson Brown meeting room on the lower level, at 303 Lookout Rd. Lookout Road. To live stream the meeting on your own, CLICK HERE.


Town Council Meeting and Public Hearing- November 11

The Montreat Town Council will meet for its monthly meeting on Thursday, November 11, at 7:00pm in the Town Hall. For a copy of the agenda, CLICK HERE. It is an open meeting but please wear a mask, which will be available. The meeting will be live streamed and recorded. For information about streaming the meeting, CLICK HERE. The Public Forum will precede the Council meeting at 6:30pm. Everyone is invited.

A public hearing will be held at the beginning of the meeting for the purpose of hearing public comments on the proposed ordinance revisions to water and wastewater standards. Please see the revisions in the Board agenda packet beginning on page 13.


Did You Know?

Ed. Note: There is much rich history in the nearly 125 years of Montreat. In order to share some of this little known history, we are now working with the Presbyterian Heritage Center to offer regular glimpses of the past. We are extremely grateful to them and urge you to stop by the Center to see their many historical exhibits and artifacts.

The first general store in Montreat was opened almost as soon as a few people took up residence. On January 2, 1899, the Mountain Retreat Association conveyed to Mary A. Holbrook of Montreat the store that was located on Vance Circle. Cora Stone, another Montreat resident, operated the store and, in addition, also had a small lending library. The cost of the lease for one year was $80, and in consideration for another $25 the MRA granted her “the exclusive privilege of doing a grocery business within the grounds of the Association.” However, the agreement clearly stated that her proprietary right did not extend to “selling fresh meats, vegetables, fowls, eggs, milk, and butter.” MRA reserved the right to sell another license for such a store.

Where was Cora Stone’s store?  Where was Vance Circle? The roads in Montreat have long since been renamed from these early days (stop by the PHC and the Town Hall to see a map of the original road layout and names).  Vance Circle was the current lower portion of Louisiana Road. The store was located very close to the intersection of Louisiana and Mississippi.

Thanks to the Presbyterian Heritage Center, especially Nancy Midgette, for this glimpse from the past. Stop by the PHC for even more Montreat history.


Updates and Reminders

  • The Montreat Planning and Zoning Commission will meet Thursday, November 11 at 10:30am in the Town Hall. The meeting is open to the public and will be live streamed. See the website for details.
  • The Town picks up leaf bags every other Wednesday. Just put your bags out by the curb and they will be picked up. Please don’t place anything but leaves and small sticks into the bags.


Questions?

Do you have Town-related questions you would like answered? If so, please send them to Angela Murphy at [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Have a great weekend!