Montreat Minute 1/31/25

Fire Update

Yesterday we sent a Special Montreat Minute alerting of three wildfires burning over the mountain in McDowell County. As an update, two of the fires have been totally contained. However, as of this morning, the North Fork fire has grown to 200 acres and is only 20% contained. Fortunately, winds have died down so officials are optimistic of it being contained.

The fires in McDowell County indeed alert us to the need to be constantly vigilant regarding our own environment. One of the fires began when a tree fell on a powerline, which can and does happen so easily in Montreat. The debris on the ground, exacerbated by the hurricane, serves as major fuel for fire. A fire burns higher and travels faster when it has ground fuel. 

With the nice weather days ahead, get out onto your property and clear out dry leaves, branches from the recent windstorms, twigs, and other fuel sources. And please remember to report the hours that you work (and that you pay others to work) to Nancy Midgette ([email protected]) to include in our annual Firewise recertification application. It is beneficial to everyone to care of your yard.


Thank You for Your Donations but…

In October, we launched a campaign to raise relief funds to help recover from Hurricane Helene. Montreaters, friends, and total strangers generously responded. Nearly $229,000 was raised. Those funds, along with $250,000 of budgeted funds for the Texas Road Bridge replacement, were used to make repairs to roads, bridges, culverts, water lines and to collect fallen trees and other debris. We spent $20,000 in overtime to the public works and police department employees who were working significant overtime hours. Literally miles of water lines have been replaced at a cost of $181,000. Thus far, more than $500,000 has been spent on recovery efforts

Unfortunately, despite all that has been done, much remains. Engineers have identified six major projects requiring significant engineering and major rebuilding and remediation work. Additionally, we received a quote of nearly $400,000 to repair roads. In total, engineers estimate that the cost of repairs and remediation will reach $10 million. We have secured a no interest loan, $250,000 in grants, and are seeking FEMA and NC Emergency Management reimbursement. However, we are not sure how much will be repaid, not to mention cash flow issues prior to reimbursement. Town Council and staff are working diligently on other funding avenues.

Therefore, we are humbly asking Montreaters, friends and others to dig deep once again to help us recover and restore our beautiful town. CLICK HERE to learn how to make a tax-deductible gift. And thank you for your donations and prayers.


Post Office Update

Montreat’s beloved Post Office reopened last Saturday after having been closed since the flood four months ago. Both Jordan and Nova have worked hard, and continue to do so, in cleaning and setting up the Post Office.

A “welcome back” party is being organized for later in February. It will be an opportunity to say thanks to Jordan and Nova for the work they have done and to show our appreciation for the Post Office in Montreat. A date for the party has not been set, but watch the Montreat Minute and other sources for information.

Contributions of food and help with other aspects of the party will be needed.

Sign-up sheets for your contributions will be posted at the Post Office once the date is set.


Did You Know?

Community Center circa 1900, our current Post Office

Ed. Note: The Presbyterian Heritage Center’s Nancy Midgette, author of Did You Know?, is traveling. What with the reopening of the Post Office, we are reprising an interesting story about the building that currently houses our Post Office.

John Collins, primary founder of Montreat, had a partner- Weston R. Gales. Gales was a Southern evangelist who shared Collins’ dream of a Christian Conference Center in the Appalachian Mountains and joined forces with him to bring the Mountain Retreat Association into existence in 1897. 

In the first early years a lottery system apportioned lots to people who paid $50 for a 99 year lease and some cottages appeared on the landscape.  But Collins was not an effective manager and in November 1899 he returned to New England.  John Huyler became president, C. A. Rowland became vice-president, and Weston Gales assumed the role of general manager.  He moved to Montreat for such a meager salary that he was forced to continue his evangelistic work. While the conferences in the summer were reasonably well-attended, there were few places for people to stay and all meetings were held in tents.  Huyler agreed to build a hotel and Gales began immediately to gather funds to construct a much-needed church and school building.  What we know today as the Community Center (current Post Office) became a reality in the spring of 1900, at a cost of $1870.13.  It was funded entirely by private donations.  Rowland was the largest contributor at $400. 

Beginning in the summer of 1900 this building hosted conference sessions, Sunday and Wednesday services throughout the year, and a day school for local children (most of whom lived outside Montreat) taught by Gales’ daughter Anna.  Gales died on November 20, 1902, following a brief illness, but during his short tenure Montreat gained a hotel and some additional boarding houses, somewhat improved roads, and a church and school building that has served Montreat in many capacities.

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


Updates and Reminders


 

  • 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!
  • Do you receive Montreat Code Red alerts, an emergency communications system used a number of times during the hurricane? If you would like to be added to the list, CLICK HERE.

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!

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