Did You Know?

Ed. Note: Three years ago, The Montreat Minute ran a story on the Livery Stable that was on Assembly Drive. In the past three years, the Presbyterian Heritage Center staff have uncovered additional information about the stable and are pleased to present this updated story, showing that history is not static!

F. D. Rood, a minister, and his wife arrived in Montreat from Florida by late 1898. Montreat Resident Mary Martin, in her letters at the time, reported that in November 1898, the Roods were living in the make-shift hotel (where Assembly Inn now stands). He often preached on Sunday mornings, although she did not think much of his sermons. He also ran the “express” wagon to Black Mountain, sold wood to local residents, and was the initial postmaster for Montreat when the post office opened in January 1899. On adjacent lots along Assembly Drive where Shenandoah now intersects, he built a livery stable, operated a small store and the post office, and constructed his house. Remnants of the livery stable still exist.

His first buckboard was not a particularly sturdy vehicle. Martin recounted renting it for a trip to Black Mountain, during which the flooring came loose and she had to have it repaired in town before returning to Montreat. Her preference after that for transportation to town was by horseback, noting that horses could pick their way around obstacles in the deeply rutted and often muddy road. By April 1899, Rood had established a regular hauling business to and from Black Mountain. To transport items from the train station, he charged 10 cents per 100 pounds. He hauled wash for 5 cents, both ways.

In 1907 Rood transferred his supply business to the Montreat Supply Company, formed shortly after Montreat became the conference center for the PCUS. Thereafter, he was quite active in real estate in the Black Mountain area, particularly along Rainbow Ridge. Property records show him still a resident of Buncombe County in 1921, but a sale in 1924 lists him as a resident of Los Angeles, California. To date the PHC has not uncovered any records that might suggest why Rood came to Montreat or why he departed.

Thanks to Presbyterian Heritage Center historian 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.