Montreat Minute 7/26/24

July 26, 2024

Help Light the Gate

The Town of Montreat, MRA, and the Montreat Adult Summer Club are joining together for a very special activity. The triumvirate is developing plans to light the Montreat gate for the holidays this year and in the future, just like it was in 2022.

But your help is needed by making a donation to help purchase the lights and other supplies needed to make this happen. Make your tax deductible check out to the Town of Montreat and note it is for Gate Lights. Send it to Town of Montreat, PO Box 423, Montreat, 28757.

Then, come to the Community Gate and Tree Lighting on November 17 for a special lighting celebration. Thank you for helping make the magic happen!

Adult Summer Club Ends Summer Season with Picnic July 31st   

The Montreat Adult Summer Club ends its summer season on Wednesday, July 31st, with a covered dish picnic at 6:00pm in Gaither Fellowship Hall. Bring a dish to share (salad, side, main, or dessert) and drinks will be provided.

This year, Montreater Walter Somerville returns for a reprise of his tongue-in-cheek thoughts about Montreat and things you haven’t thought about doing here. Come for an entertaining evening with Walter, food, and friends.

2024 Montreat Cottager Directories Still Available

If you missed the recent sales period for the 2024 Montreat Cottager Directory, you can still purchase one. Here are two ways to purchase your directory:

  1. By mail. Send your request to Montreat Cottagers, PO Box 1135, Montreat, NC 28757. Include your full name, mailing address, and a check made out to Montreat Cottagers, Inc. for $35.00/directory, which includes directory and mailing cost.
  2. At the Montreat Town Hall. CASH OR CHECKS, BUT NO CREDIT CARDS PLEASE. Make checks out to Montreat Cottagers, Inc. $25 per directory if picked up in person

If you have any questions, please contact Laurie Morgan at 828-669-7626 or [email protected].

Where’s Monte This Week?

Congratulations to Beth Frith who correctly identified Monte sitting on a picnic bench in Monkey Bottom. Beth won a $10 gift certificate to the Huckleberry!

Monte had another busy week! When he heard Beth won a gift certificate, he went to the Huckleberry since he had never been there before. He couldn’t believe his Guinea eyes when he saw so much ICE CREAM! Then he heard the Presbyterian Heritage Center had an Ice Cream Social and he visited it as well. Now he has a real “appetite” for ice cream.

So, this week he wandered around Montreat looking for more ice cream and a more challenging location to hide since folks are easily guessing where he is and he is afraid he will have to share his ice cream if they find him.

Where’s Monte this week in the photo below? Send your guesses to [email protected] by Monday at noon and win a PRIZE!

Where’s Monte this week?

Did You Know?

Alba Hotel in background, Calvin Auditorium on far right, and wooden dam with walkway on the lake.

Montreat’s success as a summer conference grounds, with over 400 people attending the first conference in 1897, meant that a more permanent structure than a tent was needed. The Community Building opened in 1900 and could accommodate up to 400 people. But conferences still needed tents for programming. Talk soon began of an even larger auditorium. However, an even more pressing priority was housing, so the Alba Hotel was constructed in 1907. Then, in 1909, the Mountain Retreat Association built Calvin Auditorium, with seating of up to 1000, on what is now Moore field. Thus, the center of Montreat was firmly defined – two hotels on either side of the lake, a rather rickety dam, a small building that served as a bookstore, and Calvin Auditorium. 

This heart of Montreat would change dramatically in the early 1920s. Anderson Auditorium opened in 1922 and Calvin Auditorium was demolished (it’s a miracle the building had not burned down). Shortly thereafter Susan Graham pledged $25,000 for a new and stronger dam if MRA would tear down the bookstore and dedicate that entire area beneath the dam as a park. She also insisted that the nearby sawmill, located directly across from her house on Assembly Drive, be moved. W. H. Belk provided funds for playground equipment and thereafter this entire area remained unchanged until the 1960s.

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. Have an idea for a future “Did You Know?”? Let Nancy know at [email protected].

Updates and Other Reminders

  • We were extremely disappointed and bewildered at the vandalism that occurred earlier this week on the Texas Road culvert area across from the entrance to the pool. As noted in the May 31 Montreat Minute, Public Works staff recently completed a major project of reconstructing the retaining wall and culverts along Puncheon Branch, laying beautiful stonework and planting beds. However, vandals destroyed portions of the wall, breaking stone and tossing it into the creek. If you have any information about the vandalism, please contact the Town at [email protected] or call 828.669.8002.
  • Do you receive your own copy of the Montreat Minute or know someone who doesn’t? Sign up for the Sunshine List to receive the Montreat Minute and stay “in the know” about the Town’s happenings. CLICK HERE to sign up for the list!

Questions or Comments?

Do you have Town-related questions or comments to offer? If so, please send them to Angie Murphy at [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Have a great weekend!