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Welcome to The Longstreet Society
Online Registration
2025 . 2025 . 2025 . 2025 . 2025 . 2025 . 2025 . 2025
Longstreet Society Seminar
From Manassas to Gainesville GA
For a registration fee of just $100 made out to the Longstreet Society, attendees get to hear four guest speakers who are all very knowledgeable about General James Longstreet; see all of Gainesville’s Longstreet sites, as well as other historic locales; explore the general’s last home; enjoy a delicious Friday night welcome dinner and Saturday lunch; explore the just-renovated Piedmont Hotel Museum where the general and his family ran northeast Georgia’s premiere late 19th century hotel; and visit with many other Longstreet fans from all over North America.
Friday, November 7, 2025
-for folks coming from the Atlanta airport, 470-252-7887; is a national chain providing shuttle service between the Atlanta airport and Gainesville hotels for just $58 round trip
-out-of-town guests arrive downtown at Gainesville’s premiere hotel, Courtyard by Marriott, where we have reserved “15 rooms per night for November 7 & 8, at a rate of $209 before taxes which comes to $245.35 after taxes and without $15 parking [per day].” -upon request, the Longstreet Society can recommend other hotels -based on room rates, location, and reputation, the Hampton Inn may be the next best option -upon arrival at the hotel, each guest will receive a welcome packet/swag bag with the seminar schedule; brochures on the Piedmont Hotel Museum, historic and beautiful Green Street, the historic Alta Vista Cemetery, and other Gainesville and northeast Georgia historic sites; a detailed local dining guide; and notepad -6:00 Welcome Dinner at Roosevelt Square’s restored city hall, a two-minute walk from the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel (a straight shot from the left side of the hotel) -the locally acclaimed Alpha Gyro Grill is providing its delicious food for us -the address after dinner will be given by the Rev. Dr. Tom Smiley, Lakewood Baptist Church Senior Pastor Emeritus, on the spiritual/religious evolution of General James Longstreet -Dr. Smiley is a tremendous public speaker who has had his own podcast and frequently guest hosts WDUN radio’s Martha Zoller Show. He is a big fan of General Longstreet.
Saturday, November 8, 2025
-breakfast on your own at the hotel, Longstreet Café, IHOP, or any of the very many other local options detailed in each attendee’s dining guide brochure which stars all eateries near the square
-9:15 Longstreet history bus tour: get on the “cool” bus in the parking lot behind the restored former city hall on Roosevelt Square just a couple minutes’ walk from Courtyard by Marriott -water and snacks are available on each bus -long-time former Longstreet Society President and Piedmont Hotel curator Richard Pilcher will be the tour guide for one bus, and University of North Georgia Political Science Professor Emeritus Dr. Douglas Young will be a tour guide if we need a second bus
-9:30 1st bus stop: the general’s and Helen Dortch Longstreet’s home at the Winner Wellness Center at 746 Green Street where Dr. Jack Winner will open the former home just for us to talk about the general and how his presence is still felt there. Dr. Winner will not only guide us through the house, but has graciously agreed to take us to explore the heretofore closed-off basement where Gainesville’s first Catholic mass was held. The basement will have been fully renovated by the time of our visit. -2nd bus stop: the general and Maria Louisa’s home in the nearby Longstreet Hills area -we get out to examine the general’s statue, the United Daughters of the Confederacy monument, and the home’s original front steps -we will then drive by where Gen. Longstreet died -we’ll also drive by the old train depot where the general drummed up patrons for the hotel -3rd bus stop: the Piedmont Hotel Museum at 828 Maple Street where folks can access drinks and restrooms and then explore the completely renovated beautiful museum -Richard Pilcher will give an address on the hotel’s fascinating history and all its famous guests -we’ll then pose for group pictures on the museum’s front steps -4th bus stop: the big Longstreet Café at 1043 Riverside Terrace where we sit together for lunch -(if it’s a smaller group, we could eat at the smaller Longstreet Café by Alta Vista Cemetery) -this lunch will be the Longstreet Society’s treat -drive by “the Tomb of the Unknown Chicken” monument, a.k.a. “the chick on a stick” statue -5th bus stop: Alta Vista Cemetery tour given by Dr. Young where, among other sites, we’ll see: -James & Louisa’s graves, and that of the last-surviving granddaughter of a C.S.A. general, -Governor James Milton Smith’s recently renovated grave and that of Gov. Allen Candler -the grave of Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal and where Gov. Nathan Deal will be buried . -many other intriguing graves, some of which appear in your Alta Vista Cemetery brochure -6th/final bus stop: the parking lot of the restored former city hall from which we can explore Roosevelt Square to see the eternal flame, FDR monument, General Longstreet historic marker, the site of the general’s 1904 funeral, the big dragon sculpture, and the pretty surroundings -it’s then a very short walk to the downtown square to see the unique Confederate Joe statue
(Georgia’s only one where the soldier is depicted ready for combat), historic markers, the WDUN radio studio (we may get a tour inside), and other sites around the lovely square -dinner on your own with many recommendations provided by your very thorough dining guide: -downtown within quick walking distance of the hotel: -around downtown square: Avocados/American, Atlas Pizza, Peyton’s Woodfired Pizza, Cotto/Italian, Taqueria Tsunami/Latin-Asian fusion, & Sanctuary on the Square/American -also very close to the hotel: Alpha Gyro Grill/Greek; Sizzling Spices/Indian (across the street from the hotel’s front entrance); Luna/American; Consuelo/Mexican; Recess/American – or the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel bistro -plus many dozens of other swell Gainesville restaurants are quickly accessible by car.
-7:00 keynote address at the Piedmont Hotel Museum by U.S. Navy veteran pilot and Annapolis graduate Russell Crow on the general’s military career -Russell flew Navy jets on an aircraft carrier and is a long-time local pharmacist. He is an excellent speaker who has given many fine War Between the States presentations to various Sons of Confederate Veterans camps. He, too, is a fan of General Longstreet. -the annual Helen Dortch Longstreet Award will also be presented at this event -the city bus will take folks w/o cars from the Courtyard to the Piedmont Hotel Museum.
Sunday, November 9, 2025
-breakfast on your own at the hotel or please refer to your detailed dining guide
-9:00 address at the restored city hall by Dr. Young on Gen. Longstreet’s political evolution -a raffle of many attractive items, including some beautifully-reproduced china plates from the Grant White House and some lovely porcelain dolls