Montreat Minute for August 28, 2026
Convenience Center Information Update
The story below is the same as last week with two exceptions:
- We apologize for being premature on picking up key fobs at the Town Hall. We weren’t quite ready. However, starting Tuesday, September 1, you may stop by the Town Hall from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm to register for and pick up your key fob.
- The online form is now available to register for and have the fob mailed to you. CLICK HERE for the form.
If you have been to the Convenience Center recently, you probably noticed the new double gate as well as the smaller human “walk-through gate” to the left of the double gates (follow the yellow arrow signs). These upgrades were made not only to improve service, but to prepare for the restricted access system which will soon be implemented.
Beginning approximately September 8, the Convenience Center will be accessible only to Montreat property owners and their guests via a gate lock system. The walk-through gate will be the access point to the dumpsters. All Montreat households will receive a key fob registered to that household. To gain access, simply wave the key fob in front of the keypad and the gate will unlock. The two large gates will remain closed and locked at all times. You may park in front of the gates to unload.
Watch for a Special Montreat Minute next week confirming the start date.
Obtain your key fob in one of two ways:
- Stop by the Town Hall to register and pick it up starting Tuesday, September 1 any time between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.
- Fill out an online form and the fob will be sent to you via US Mail. CLICK HERE for the form.
Several other important points about the new system:
- There is no charge for the key fob
- If lost, the old key fob will be deactivated and be unusable. A new fob will be issued at a replacement cost of $25.
- One fob will be issued per household
- The Convenience Center will be available 24/7. However, MPD and Public Works recommend that you access it between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm for safety reasons.
These changes and improvements will result in use only by Montreat residents/guests. That means there will be virtually no completely full dumpsters anymore, preventing you from depositing your trash.
Zoning Administrator Update
As many know, the Town has had some challenges in keeping long term zoning administrators. Part of the problem is that the Montreat position was only three days per week, which was not very desirable for many individuals with zoning administration experience. As part of the 2026-2027 Town budget, the position was upgraded to full time with added responsibilities. The new position is titled Zoning Administrator, Code Enforcement Officer, and Project Manager.
This position plays a key role in administering the Town’s land development regulations, assisting residents and developers through the permitting process, managing municipal planning projects, and supporting the Town Manager with various Helene recovery-related projects and planning efforts.
Interviewing has already started with highly qualified applications having been received. In the meantime, the Land of Sky will be providing us with an interim Zoning Administrator until the permanent employee is hired. Jacob Compher from Land of Sky is our interim and will be working in the Town Hall Wednesdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and all day Thursday and Friday.
Did You Know?
If you were in Montreat during the summers of 1936-41, you definitely wanted to subscribe to the Montreat Weekly News. Cost was five cents per week, delivered to your door. Single copies were available in the Montreat stores. You could get information on the current conference as well as the club program and Camp Montreat. Perhaps more importantly, you could discover who had arrived and where they were staying, as well as other relevant personal news of Montreaters.
The first issue appeared on June 6, 1936. It announced the opening of clubs, the latest arrivals, the mail schedule, and two illnesses. It also contained two advertisements and a message from Dr. Robert C. Anderson, president of MRA, commending this initiative and encouraging Montreaters to subscribe.
This newspaper was the brainchild of Kingsley and Tait Elder, ages 14 and 11. Their publishing office was located in the Elder family home, “Mountain Lodge,” on Virginia Road. Three other boys joined them as reporters and delivery personnel – Chester Pearce, George Ennett, and Clarence Legerton. They were busy that first summer. Within two weeks circulation had grown from 25 to 100. Perhaps they could have sold even more, but their publishing equipment, an old gelatin duplicator, could only produce 100 copies before the print faded. With their profits from this first year they purchased a mimeograph machine so that in 1937 they could produce up to 200 copies weekly.
Each year the paper grew in sophistication. The layout resembled a professional newspaper, with many articles beginning on the first page, to catch attention, and then continuing on the inner pages. By 1938 the paper was at least 8 pages each week, with advertisements not only from Montreat but Black Mountain businesses as well.
The paper was not published in 1939 but picked up again with the July 3, 1940 edition, in which Dr. Anderson noted that “Kingsley Elder, Jr., and Kenneth Foreman, Jr., are undertaking again to publish the Montreat Weekly News. These boys will give us an interesting paper and I trust that all of our cottagers will give them full cooperation in what they are doing.” In addition to the usual comings and goings, conference highlights, and weekly events, the editors also included a two-page spread in each issue entitled “Montreat – Past and Present,” which focused on Montreat history. The price was 50 cents for the summer, home delivery included.
1941 marked the final year for the paper. Both Elder and Foreman were away from Montreat that summer; new editors Frank Sanford and John M. Farrior took over. In addition to the usual content of the paper, the editors included a complete list of all the subscribers and several articles on foreign affairs. The final edition for 1941 noted the end of the summer. But the paper never resumed. World War II brought many changes to Montreat, including the demise of the Montreat Weekly News.
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
- The Montreat Landcare Committee will meet on Wednesday, September 2nd, at 9:00 am, in the Town Hall Community Room. The meeting will be live streamed. For the agenda and streaming instructions, CLICK HERE. All are invited to attend.
- 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 Redalerts, 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 great weekend!
