Montreat Minute for May 29, 2026

May 29, 2026

Stone Bridges Project

A black and white photo of a curved stone bridge crossing a road, surrounded by dense trees and foliage. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled light on the quiet, peaceful scene.
1923 photo of Lookout Road Bridge at Assembly Drive

Montreat’s Stone Bridge Project is a collaborative effort between the Town of Montreat and Montreat Cottagers. The project is an opportunity to restore a piece of the town’s character and history. Following the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, the Town created the Stone Bridge Advisory Committee to help guide the design of bridge improvements that reflect Montreat’s traditional stonework and mountain aesthetic.

The committee’s work focuses on recommending bridge sidewalls and other architectural features that incorporate stone and mortar in a style inspired by the craftsmanship seen throughout Montreat’s early history. Montreat has a long history of bridges serving as both functional infrastructure and iconic landmarks.

Residents are encouraged to stay engaged and follow updates as the project moves forward. Learn more about the Stone Bridges Project by CLICKING HERE

Sanitation Ordinance Q&A

Three green trash bins stand beneath trees, with one lid open. Litter, including plastic bags, food wrappers, and paper, is scattered on the ground in front of the bins.

At the March Town Council meeting, the Council passed changes to the Town’s Solid Waste Disposal and Refuse Collection Ordinance, commonly known as the “Sanitation Ordinance.” The Sanitation Ordinance is part of the Town’s General Code of Ordinances and addresses how solid waste, recyclables, leaves and brush, bulk items and white goods, the Convenience Center, and enforcement are handled in Montreat.

Although many portions of the Sanitation Ordinance were largely unchanged, there were significant changes made in other areas. These changes were made primarily to address and control the Town’s experience with bears getting into trash and creating public health and safety hazards. We must stop inadvertently feeding the bears, thereby endangering ourselves and others with our trash. A copy of the revised Sanitation Ordinance is available by CLICKING HERE.

To insure everyone is aware of the changes, we will be having a series of communiques, including live public information sessions, articles in the Montreat Minute and other Montreat publications, a special email address just for sanitation issues, and a Question-and-Answer document that will answer many of your questions.

This Q&A was prepared to fully inform Montreaters and visitors of the changes and responsibilities of homeowners, renters and guests. For any other questions, please contact Town staff by email trash@townofmontreat.org or call 828/669-8002.

Here are two Q&A’s from the document. For the entire document, CLICK HERE.

Q: I rent out my house and sometimes renters don’t follow Town rules. I won’t be held responsible for them, will I?

A: Yes. Property owners are the responsible parties. Owners are responsible for compliance with the Sanitation Ordinance whether the house is occupied by the owner or by visitors, renters, lessees, or any other person. Owners must take all necessary steps to inform occupants about the Sanitation Ordinance.

Q: What if the bears get into my trash?

A: If you have a certified or approved BRC or BRC system and bears break into it and strew trash on the ground, Town workers will pick up the scattered trash. However, if the Town Public Works Director or investigating police officer determines that the problem occurred due to failure to comply with the Sanitation Ordinance (e.g. unapproved BRC, can was not locked properly, BRC or BRC system was not operating correctly), the owner will be subject to penalties.

A Quick Thank You…

A small landscaped area with wood chips, a few green shrubs, a large rock, and a stone border sits beside a curved paved road surrounded by trees. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting shadows on the scene.

Allan and Lolly Hightower recently took it upon themselves to refresh and restore several flower beds on Texas Road, transforming them from tired and overgrown into bright, welcoming spaces for all to enjoy. Their thoughtful work, done entirely on their own and at no cost to the Town, is a wonderful example of community spirit in action. If you find yourself along Texas Road, take a moment to enjoy the view and join us in thanking the Hightowers for helping keep Montreat beautiful.

Did You Know?

Text on a blue and green gradient background reads Did you know? with a large question mark behind the words.
A newspaper page labeled Raleigh Register April 30, 1819 and a highlighted article about the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, with text questioning if it was made over a year before Congress’s declaration.

An article published in the April 30, 1819 edition of the Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette proclaimed the following: “It is not probably known to many of our readers, that the citizens of Mecklenburg County, in this State, made a Declaration of Independence more than a year before Congress made theirs. The following Document on the subject has lately come to the hands of the Editor from unquestionable authority,  and is published that it may go down to posterity.” 

The document in question was called the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, and it had allegedly declared Mecklenburg “free and independent” from British rule on May 20, 1775.

But many people were confused – why were they just now hearing about this revolutionary action? The original document burned in a house fire in 1800, and the published version had been reconstructed from notes made by the clerk of the 1775 meeting. No extant copies could be found.

The debate over the authenticity of the Mecklenburg Declaration began. And, when a copy of a document called the Mecklenburg Resolves written on May 30, 1775, was discovered in a 1775 newspaper, the debate intensified. The Resolves were revolutionary, but stopped short of declaring independence. Did both documents exist? Or was the Declaration being conflated with the Resolves?

Examine the evidence and decide for yourself by visiting the new exhibit, “Mecklenburg Declaration?” at the Presbyterian Heritage Center.

The PHC is open Tuesday-Friday (10-4) and Saturday (12-4).

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 midgette@elon.edu.

Reminders and Updates

A hand is writing the word REMINDERS in black marker, with a red underline, on a white background.
  • The Stone Bridges Committee will hold a regular meeting on Monday, June 1, 2026 at Town Hall
  • The Landcare Committee will hold a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at Town Hall
  • 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 CodeRed alerts, an emergency communications system used a number of times during the hurricane and wildfires? To learn more about Code Red or 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 Angela Murphy at info@townofmontreat.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

Have a good weekend! 

Leave a Comment