OCTOBER 2015
The William Black Lodge and Retreat Center, in Montreat, N.C., celebrated it's 100th anniversary by honoring Mrs. Sarah Belk Gambrell with a portrait commissioned by the lodge in honor of her, and her family's support, of the lodge.
In a ceremony held at the lodge, William G. Alexander, Trustee, reflected on Mrs. Gambrell's support of the retreat center, and how the Belk's and Gambrell's became involved with the lodge.
In honoring Mrs. Sarah Gambrell, Mr. Alexander said, "She has rarely missed a board meeting since the 1950s and has actively but gently guided this board and insured that our mission remained steady 'to provide a needed mountain retreat to pastors and church workers at a minimum cost.'"
Mr. Alexander reflected upon the lodges founding in 1915, and its beginnings as a 7-bedroom lodge that hosted retreats for an average of 20 Christian workers a week throughout the summer. The lodge was renamed in 1928 honoring Dr. William Black, one of its earliest supporters, and became known as the William Black Home for Religious Workers.
In 1946, the primarily wooden structure was destroyed by fire. Plans were quickly made to replace the lodge with the William Black Memorial Home for Christian Workers. The new lodge was estimated to cost $80,000 to build and replace the destroyed retreat center.
In January, 1949, Mr. W. H. Belk pledged $5,000, a full 10% of the needed balance of the campaign for the replacement lodge, getting the campaign off to a rock solid start. The new retreat center, built on the same location in the Blue Ridge Mountains, opened on June 21, 1951.
In 1973, the lodge was expanded to serve its current mission of providing space for year round use for retreats, training events, and conferences for both Christian groups and not for profit organizations.
The retreat centers last addition was completed in 1982. The W. H. Belk Conference and Worship Center was built as a result of a successful $400,000 Capital Campaign. The lodge's capacity was expanded to accommodate at least 64 overnight guests and 66 guests in the dining room.
Henry Belk joined the Board of the Lodge at its inception in 1915 and served on it throughout his lifetime. Mr. Belk's daughter, Sarah Gambrell, joined the board and has taken over her father's legacy.
Prior to presenting Mrs. Gambrell with a painting commissioned by the lodge and painted by local artist William Harrison, Bill Alexander stated that "she has been guiding the Board for over 60 years, with her grace and wisdom. She took over her father's legacy in actively participating and supporting the Lodge, never yielding or giving up when others would have quit."
The William Black Lodge and Retreat Center, in Montreat, N.C., celebrated it's 100th anniversary by honoring Mrs. Sarah Belk Gambrell with a portrait commissioned by the lodge in honor of her, and her family's support, of the lodge.
In a ceremony held at the lodge, William G. Alexander, Trustee, reflected on Mrs. Gambrell's support of the retreat center, and how the Belk's and Gambrell's became involved with the lodge.
In honoring Mrs. Sarah Gambrell, Mr. Alexander said, "She has rarely missed a board meeting since the 1950s and has actively but gently guided this board and insured that our mission remained steady 'to provide a needed mountain retreat to pastors and church workers at a minimum cost.'"
Mr. Alexander reflected upon the lodges founding in 1915, and its beginnings as a 7-bedroom lodge that hosted retreats for an average of 20 Christian workers a week throughout the summer. The lodge was renamed in 1928 honoring Dr. William Black, one of its earliest supporters, and became known as the William Black Home for Religious Workers.
In 1946, the primarily wooden structure was destroyed by fire. Plans were quickly made to replace the lodge with the William Black Memorial Home for Christian Workers. The new lodge was estimated to cost $80,000 to build and replace the destroyed retreat center.
In January, 1949, Mr. W. H. Belk pledged $5,000, a full 10% of the needed balance of the campaign for the replacement lodge, getting the campaign off to a rock solid start. The new retreat center, built on the same location in the Blue Ridge Mountains, opened on June 21, 1951.
In 1973, the lodge was expanded to serve its current mission of providing space for year round use for retreats, training events, and conferences for both Christian groups and not for profit organizations.
The retreat centers last addition was completed in 1982. The W. H. Belk Conference and Worship Center was built as a result of a successful $400,000 Capital Campaign. The lodge's capacity was expanded to accommodate at least 64 overnight guests and 66 guests in the dining room.
Henry Belk joined the Board of the Lodge at its inception in 1915 and served on it throughout his lifetime. Mr. Belk's daughter, Sarah Gambrell, joined the board and has taken over her father's legacy.
Prior to presenting Mrs. Gambrell with a painting commissioned by the lodge and painted by local artist William Harrison, Bill Alexander stated that "she has been guiding the Board for over 60 years, with her grace and wisdom. She took over her father's legacy in actively participating and supporting the Lodge, never yielding or giving up when others would have quit."