Montreat Stone Bridges Project
Town of Montreat
Stone Bridges Advisory Committee
Montreat Cottagers, Inc.
“Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls” - Isaiah 58:12
Project Overview
We have a tangible opportunity to restore our unique, historic bridges. There are at least 6 bridges to be addressed by our fundraising efforts. The existing concrete structures are sound, although some alterations may be needed. River stones will be added to the walls. Stone columns will also be built at the beginning and end of each side of the bridges. The project also includes landscaping and related improvements whenever possible.
Donor Information
The Cottagers and the Town have entered into a master gift agreement which obligates the Town to use all donations to Stone Bridges solely for the purpose of this project. Gift Agreement or Restricted Gifts forms are available to donors through the Town.
Please send checks made out to Montreat Cottagers, Inc. or to Town of Montreat (with “Stone Bridges” in the memo line).
Also, you may donate online at montreatcottagers.com.
An additional way to contribute is to give appreciated securities and QCD’s.
For answers to questions on the Cottagers brokerage account, you may contact: masonblake@gmail.com
Mailing Address:
Montreat Cottagers, Inc.
P.O. Box 111
Montreat, NC 28757
Our Past Our Future
The ancient Appalachian Mountains have consistently revealed stones along paths, creeks and rivers. The bridges of Montreat are unique and date back to the early 1900’s. Their style was original in its use of rocks from its streams. These stones were embedded with flecks of mica, round to oval in shape, with varied shades of browns, black and white.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, our beloved stone bridges need our attention. These bridges are more than crossings; they are part of our shared history, our daily rhythms, and our sense of place. Rebuilding them is about restoring the historic features that make the bridges unique to our town and the bonds that hold our community together. By raising funds and working together, we can honor the craftsmanship of the past, rebuild with care and resilience, and ensure these bridges once again carry neighbors, families, and generations safely forward.
Town of Montreat
The Town is working with FEMA to acquire funds to repair or replace structural portions of the Town’s bridges. The work of the Stone Bridges Project will be adding decorative stone to the bridges and will add related beautification improvements that are not being funded by FEMA. This work will be built with money raised from those who are dedicated to the future of Montreat.
Montreat Cottagers, Inc.
As a non-profit corporation, the Cottagers organization may raise funds for projects that benefit the Montreat community. Our goal is to support the Stone Bridges Project. The Cottagers will receive donations and submit them to the Town for the sole purpose of restoring our bridges in a style reflecting historic Montreat bridge construction, materials and designs.
The Town Manager and Public Works Manager have hired a stone mason and work will begin towards the end of the summer on Lookout at Assembly Drive.
If you have questions please contact our Committee Chair, Beth Casper, at bethcasper1@gmail.com or Savannah Parish at Town Hall at sparish@montreat.org
Historic Perspective
Montreat has inherited a distinctive style through local architecture with unique characteristics intrinsic to the region of Western North Carolina. Within its valley, a particular kind of geological combination of mineral rich stones of varying types and sizes can be found in its streams and on its mountainsides, providing great variety for building purposes.
The original Northern settlers brought with them their own sense of mountain style based on their Adirondack traditions. They built an infrastructure which relied even more heavily upon the ability to harvest and utilize local stone that nature provided. The result became a collection of buildings, walls and bridges that renders an appearance not seen in other towns within Western North Carolina. The seemingly endless supply of stones provided local laborers the opportunity to build these structures without the use of sophisticated machinery.
A unique rustic style emerged with an aesthetic quality that offers a sense of belonging in a wilderness setting, a setting that remains an invaluable treasure to Montreat today.