Montreat Minute 05/19/22

May 19, 2022

We are a day early in publishing the Montreat Minute due to some scheduling conflicts. We will return to our normal Friday publication next week.

Comprehensive Plan Committee Needs Your Input

The Comprehensive Plan Committee has been meeting regularly and expects to complete their update of the Montreat Comprehensive Plan, called “Montreat Tomorrow”, in December. But they need your thoughts and ideas now. There are two important opportunities for which they are seeking Montreater input:

  1. A Community Survey—the Committee is seeking your opinions on important subjects regarding the future of Montreat. Please take the survey and complete it by June 15. CLICK HERE to take the survey.
  2. A Community Workshop—the Committee is holding a community workshop on Saturday, June 11th, from 11:00am to 1:00pm in the Community Room at the Town Hall. It will begin with a short presentation followed by group idea activities afterward. Please stop by to give your thoughts about Montreat Tomorrow.

About the Comprehensive Plan Project: “Montreat Tomorrow” is an updated comprehensive plan for the town of Montreat. The future inevitably brings change, but Montreat can ensure that growth is careful and responsible, while preserving the tranquility that makes the community a beloved place today. The plan will be broad and include topics like land use, environment, transportation, and recreation. Montreat Tomorrow will result in short-term actions that respond to current challenges while also preparing for the future with long-term strategies designed to reflect the community’s desires.

Reminder: Meeting to Discuss Hunting Dog Ordinances Tonight at 6:00pm

Tonight, Thursday, May 19, a special meeting will be held at 6:00pm in the Community Room of the Town Hall to discuss dog ordinance controls. The discussion will be held with invited stakeholders, including several Montreat residents, the Regional Captain of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, the president of the Mt. Mitchell Bear Club and Town officials. The purpose of the meeting is to work together to draft ordinance controls to prevent dogs, particularly hunting dogs, from running loose within Town limits. Although the public is invited to attend, there will be no public comment at this meeting. Suggested ordinance revisions and opportunities for public comment will be announced in the future. The meeting will be live streamed and may be viewed by CLICKING HERE.

Did You Know?

Ed. Note: This is the first of three stories on Camp Montreat

Camp Montreat for Girls first opened in 1924. Montreat already had a summer club program of sorts, with the Boys’ Club and Girls’ Club. However, these programs served only children of families who were staying in Montreat. Dr. Robert Anderson, then President of MRA, and many of the board members concluded that the benefits of spending at least part of the summer in Montreat should be available to more young people. The objective, according to an early brochure, was “to show that young people can be entertained without the questionable forms found in so many places.”  Thus was born the idea for a residential camp program.

It was situated on 28 acres that had once belonged to John Huyler, a New York philanthropist and major benefactor of Montreat. Anderson and W. H. Belk together had purchased the property and gave it to Montreat. The camp campus was located behind Anderson Auditorium extending up to the current swimming pool and baseball field as well as on Texas Road. The lodge on the property, Andelk, became the nucleus of the camp.  With the addition of an annex, the camp had an assembly room, a dining hall, and sleeping quarters. 

Twenty-six girls came that first year, at a cost of $200 for the entire summer session plus a surcharge if they chose to participate in horseback riding.  Activities included a daily Bible Hour, sports, crafts, and the opportunity to take academic classes with Montreat Normal School.  Stay tuned for the next issue in this mini-series on Camp Montreat!

Photo from the 1926 camp brochure

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

Updates and Reminders

  • Check out the Presbyterian Heritage Center’s special Montreat 125th Anniversary display about the Community Center (now the Post Office) and its storied past. It is in the lobby of the Post Office and is the first of several anniversary displays that the PHC will be placing around our Town to commemorate the anniversary.
  • Town Offices will be closed on Monday, May 30, for the Memorial Day holiday. Trash pickup will be delayed to Tuesday, May 31.
  • The Town Council will be considering a vote on the proposed change in form of government at its June 9th meeting. To learn more about the proposed change, CLICK HERE or contact a Town Council member.
  • The Montreat Tree Board will meet on Tuesday, May 24th, at 9:30am, in the Community Room of the Town Hall. The meeting will be live streamed. CLICK HERE for streaming instructions.
  • The Montreat Board of Adjustment will meet on Thursday, May 26th, at 5:00pm, in the Community Room of the Town Hall. The meeting will be live streamed. CLICK HERE for streaming instructions.

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!