Did You Know?

Shortly after its incorporation in March 1897, the Mountain Retreat Association began to sponsor conferences. That summer, the Christian Workers’ Assembly attracted over 400 attendees. In 1898, two conferences that spanned a total of three weeks brought even more people. Meetings were held under canopies and people slept in tents. Montreat’s Executive Committee hoped to attract even larger crowds, but such would not happen without adequate accommodations. Paying for a hotel and a permanent meeting structure, however, was beyond the means of the organization that could not even afford to grade the roads properly.

In November 1899 a change of leadership paved the way for a solution. John Huyler, a wealthy New York philanthropist, had been active with Montreat since its founding and was elected president of the Association. He agreed to pay the entire cost of a modern hotel, leaving it to General Manager, Weston Gales, to raise enough money to construct a modest meeting facility.

Both buildings opened in 1900. Hotel Montreat was located where Assembly Inn stands today. While indoor plumbing had not yet arrived, the hotel was nonetheless a vast improvement over tents on wooden platforms. It was filled during the summer with conference attendees. Vacationers also found their way to Montreat, many of whom so loved the area that they purchased lots for summer cottages of their own. In 1907 another hotel, the Alba (CLICK HERE for Alba Hotel story), was built on the other side of the lake.  When Montreat Normal School opened in 1916, Hotel Montreat served as its residence hall and classroom building.

On a January night in 1924, the students were awakened by a fire alarm. While they were all able to escape the building, Hotel Montreat burned to the ground. The students were moved to three smaller facilities owned by MRA and school continued, moving into the Alba Hotel in September of 1924. Summer housing, however, was a major problem that the Alba alone could not manage. Dr. R. C. Anderson, President of Montreat, turned his attention to erecting a hotel that fire could not destroy. Once the rubble of Hotel Montreat was carted away, he oversaw the construction of Assembly Inn, which formally opened in 1927.

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.