Did You Know?

Shortly after its founding in 1897 Montreat attracted both summer and permanent residents and became a location for summer conferences. By 1903 a simple wooden sign marked the entrance.  Always in need of revenue, Montreat began to charge a small entrance fee to support conferences and grounds upkeep.  The simple sign was replaced by a wooden archway and small office where fees were collected. 

About 1912 the archway entrance was replaced by a somewhat more substantial structure that controlled the passage of wagons with wooden picket gates. Shortly thereafter, in 1913, the original charter was amended to formally allow for the collection of fees. 

In 1922 the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Church celebrated its tenth anniversary with a gift to Montreat for the construction of a more permanent entrance and in 1923 the stone gate that still stands was constructed. 

One of the most coveted of Montreat summer jobs was that of Gateboy, a position that existed from 1913-1969.  While the gate has been damaged many times, it has always been rebuilt. The collection of fees ended shortly after Montreat incorporated as a town in 1967. The closable metal gates are gone but the stone archway, forever known as the Montreat Gate, remains as an iconic symbol of this place.

Want to know more?  See Montreat, in the Postcard History Series, by Mary McPhail Standaert and Joseph Standaert; and The Montreat Gateboys and Their Stories, by Mary McPhail Standaert.  Both volumes are available in the Presbyterian Heritage Center.

Pictures courtesy of Mary McPhail Standaert, Joseph Standaert, and the Presbyterian Heritage Center.

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.