The Longstreet Society, Inc. is a Georgia Corporation with membership open to anyone regardless of race, creed, religion or national origin. The yearly dues are $10.00 per student membership, $30.00 Individual, $50.00 Family and $125.00 for corporate membership. The Society is governed by an elected board of directors numbering ten plus a chairman, President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
MISSION STATEMENT OF THE LONGSTREET SOCIETY, INC.
THE
LONGSTREET SOCIETY, was founded in 1994 to honor the life of General James Longstreet,
CSA. The Society works to sponsor programs that exemplify General Longstreet's
legacy of peace, brotherhood, understanding and American patriotism by exposing
the lessons of history in scholarly, yet meaningful and entertaining ways to
people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures. In doing so, the Society hopes
to provide a forum for people who would otherwise not have the opportunity to
come together to seek solutions to new and old problems and make new friends.
SOCIETY NON-PROFIT ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS
1. GENERAL LONGSTREET'S CONTINUED ADVOCACY FOR MEDIATION, CONCILIATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION. This project will be a program administered and coordinated by Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia. The Longstreet Society's involvement will be limited to securing funding and promoting its inauguration and continued operation. Inauguration of this activity is now planned for 1998.
2. RESTORATION OF THE HISTORIC PIEDMONT HOTEL. The Society has purchased the remaining 1900 square foot portion of the Historic Piedmont Hotel after identifying it last year as a rundown rental duplex. The Society has borrowed the funds for the purchase of the lot on which the hotel stand and an adjoining lot which will be used for parking. Restoration of the hotel exterior is currently in progress. The interior will be restored as funds become available. The hotel was found in 1994. Since that time, efforts have continued to preserve the structure. Maintenance at the home site of General Longstreet began in 1995.
3. THE "COMING TOGETHER OF AMERICA MUSEUM". This will be a museum viewed through the experiences of General Longstreet's life and career. Located in the Historic Piedmont Hotel, this museum will contain General Longstreet's writings and memorabilia. In addition the museum will feature a room dedicated to Woodrow Wilson's efforts to establish the League of Nations (the actual room he and his family lived in and where his daughter Jessie was born in 1887). Space in the building will also be used as headquarters for The Longstreet Society and the Beulah Rucker Museum Group.
4. THE BEULAH RUCKER MUSEUM AND COMMUNITY CENTER. The Longstreet Society has led efforts to restore the Rucker house and develop the Rucker Community Center in honor of Beulah Rucker Oliver, a pioneering African/American woman educator who started Georgia school in Gainesville in 1915. Hundreds of graduates went on to college and successful career. Beulah Rucker Oliver passed away in 1963 and the school was abandoned. The Society has donated considerable to the cleaning , electrical wiring, remodeling and providing architectural services. The Society will continue to support the Beulah Rucker Center and Museum which this year was granted 501 C-3 status.
5. MAINTENANCE OF GENERAL LONGSTREET'S GRAVE. GENERAL LONGSTREET'S GRAVE HAS LONG BEEN NEGLECTED. THE SOCIETY ERECTED AN AMERICAN FLAG AT THE GRAVE IN APRIL 1995. THE GRAVE HAS NOW BECOME A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION IN GAINESVILLE.
6. MAINTENANCE OF GENERAL LONGSTREET'S HOME SITE. The City of Gainesville owns the Park Hill Park property where the home was located. The City's Park and Recreation Department, which has maintained the property recently designated the Longstreet Society as the recipient of their "Adopt-A-Park"program. Maintenance on the is property began in 1995.
LONGSTREET TOURS
THE Society offers informative and entertaining group tours lasting approximately two hours that include General Longstreet's grave site, his Parkhill home place, the Georgia Mountains Museum and the Piedmont Hotel. There is a small charge, and reservations must be made at least a week in advance. Members should let us know when they are going to be in the area so we can arrange for someone to show them around the area. (Free of charge to members.)
The Longstreet Society is grateful for the use of articles and information published in Blue & Gray Magazine
THE LONGSTREET SOCIETY WEB SITE'S ADDRESS (AVAILABLE DECEMBER 1997) IS: www.longstreet.org
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US IN HONORING GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET, PLEASE PRINT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AND MAIL TO:
The Longstreet Society
P.O. Box 191
Gainesville, Ga. 30503
Name:_____________________________________________________________
Address:__________________________________________________________City,
State, Zip:_________________________________________________
Telephone:__________________________Fax:__________________________
E-Mail:_____________________________
Would you like to be a volunteer?_________________________________
Cash/Check/Master Card/Visa (Please circle one)
Card number:_____________________________Ex.Date__________________
Amount: $__________
thank you for your support!
Dues: $10 (Student) $30 (Individual) $50 (Family) $115 (Corp.)
THE LONGSTREET SOCIETY PRESENTS
CAMP TALK
BY CAMP TALK EDITOR MICHAEL F. BERGMAN
UPON RELOCATING TO GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA IN 1875, FORMER CONFEDERATE
LIEUTENANT GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET PURCHASED THE 40 ROOM PIEDMONT HOTEL AND
115 ACRES JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN WHERE HE BUILT A LARGE HOUSE AND ESTABLISHED
HIS PARK HILL FAR. AT PARK HILL GENERAL LONGSTREET PLANTED VINEYARDS ON TERRACES
EXTENDING FROM THE HOUSE AND RAISED POULTRY. GAINESVILLE LOCALS, WHO AT TIMES
WERE LESS THAN CONGENIAL TOWARD HIM, CALLED THE PLACE "LITTLE GETTYSBURG"
BECAUSE THE VINEYARD TERRACES RESEMBLED BATTLEFIELD FORTIFICATIONS. WINE PRODUCED
FROM HIS VINEYARDS WAS PRIZED BY HIS FRIENDS AND SERVED IN THE PIEDMONT HOTEL'S
DINING ROOM. THE PARK HILL HOUSE BURNED UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES IN 1889,
CONSUMING NEARLY ALL OF THE GENERAL'S CIVIL WAR MEMENTOS, INCLUDING HIS UNIFORM,
SWORD, AND UNCOMPLETED MEMOIRS. TODAY, ONLY THE GRANITE FRONT STEPS REMAIN.
THE PIEDMONT HOTEL WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1870 IN ANTICIPATION OF THE ATLANTA TO WASHINGTON RAILROAD OPENING IN 1873. THE HOTEL WAS A POPULAR SUMMER RESORT DURING THE TIME WHEN LOWLAND PEOPLE SOUGHT REFUGE FROM THE HEAT AND FREQUENT YELLOW FEVER OUTBREAKS.
MANY FORMER CIVIL WAR OFFICERS AND NOTABLE PUBLIC FIGURES OF THE PERIOD PATRONIZED THE HOTEL, INCLUDING CONFEDERATE GENERAL JOSEPH JOHNSTON, UNION GENERAL DANIEL SICKLES AS WELL AS ATLANTA CONSTITUTION EDITORS JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS AND HENRY GRADY. PERHAPS THE MOST SOON TO BE NOTABLE GUESTS WERE THE WOODROW WILSONS. THE FUTURE PRESIDENT'S SECOND DAUGHTER, JESSIE, WAS BORN IN THE HOTEL ON AUGUST 28, 1887. IT IS RECORDED THAT LONGSTREET AND HIS WIFE, LOUISA, WERE PRESENT FOR JESSIE'S BIRTH. GENERAL LONGSTREET OPERATED THE HOTEL UNTIL THE EARLY 1890'S AND IT WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN IN 1918. HOWEVER, LAST YEAR HISTORIANS MADE A STARTLING DISCOVERY - THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE NORTH WING STILL EXISTS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. ARCHITECT GARLAND REYNOLDS AND SEVERAL OTHER LOCAL HISTORIANS INSPECTED THE SITE OF THE OLD PIEDMONT HOTEL WITH THE IDEA OF BULLDOZING TWO OLD STRUCTURES AND BUILDING A LONGSTREET MUSEUM THERE. AS THEY EXAMINED ONE OF THE BUILDINGS, THE NOTION GREW THAT IT MIGHT BE PART OF THE OLD HOTEL.
LONGSTREET MERCHANDISE:
THE LONGSTREET SOCIETY HAS T-SHIRTS, TOTE BAGS 7 MUGS FEATURING THE IMAGE OF THE GENERAL FOR SALE.
T-SHIRTS: $14.00
TOTE BAGS: $12.00
MUGS: $ 6.00
ADD SHIPPING AS FOLLOWS:
UP TO $15.00= ADD $3.00.
$16-$30= ADD $5.25.
$31-$55= ADD $6.50.
MAIL ORDERS TO: THE LONGSTREET SOCIETY,
PO BOX 191 GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA 30503
RETURN TO HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, MUSEUMS, ASSOCIATIONS AND CENTERS