Hi!  We're Joanne and Bruce Northridge.  We thank you
for checking out our website.  Here's the story of how 
The Gathering Place came to be.

From Logtown to Louisa Street to The Gathering Place

The building that now houses The Gathering Place was
originally built in Logtown in1895 as a wedding present for a "log baron's" daughter.  In order to make way for a new NASA facility it was moved to its current location in 1963. Due to the efforts of Senator Stennis to secure more jobs for this area,  President Kennedy officially closed the towns of Logtown and Gainesvile, for the purpose of constructing a facility to test rocket engines in our quest to "reach the moon".                      

We bought the building in 1994 with a long range goal of converting it into a B & B. My short-term goal was to have a facility to hold functions.  With the help of my family of carpenters and craftsmen, The Gathering Place was ready for business in the fall of 2003.  During the short period of operation before Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, our business plan was successful.  We had a number of functions and events however Katrina put a screeching halt to everything that was in its path.

Even though we lost our beach house  we were fortunate enough to live in the upper "West Wing" of The Gathering Place.  We had the luxury of three rooms that were not storm-damaged, as well as the use of an upstairs bathroom.  A host of wonderful volunteers came and stayed with us during the first few months after the storm, referring to the house as their  "B&B" (even in its gutted and carpetless state).  In October of 2005, we bought a storm-damaged house to become our new home and after repairs were completed we moved in six-months later.

Americorps, a volunteer group we had been working with leased The Gathering Place to house about 24 young adults and stayed until their new facility was ready to move into.  These young men and women as well as countless other volunteers gave our community hope in the face of despair.  

Beginning in January of 2007, we began an "extreme makeover" on The Gathering Place.   We had a six-week time-frame for a March  "family" Wedding. Through the group effort of contractors, family and friends the wedding was absolutely "Fabulous"!

A full spectrum of events have been held here since our official September 2007 opening (below is our Hancock County "Ribbon Cutting" ceremoney) such as weddings, receptions, birthday parties, bridal showers, baby showers, and even a "getting to know you" party for a bridal couple and their extended families.  We have been honored with hosting an awards dinner two years in a row for the Stennis Rotary Club.  For the past year, the Kiwanis Club has met here for their bi-monthly luncheon meetings. The "Terrific Kids Awards" and "Breakfast with Santa" are just two of their signature projects.



..."Ribbon Cutting Ceremony" . . . . September, 2007...  



...a ten-year-old's, "Own Your Own Cafe" theme party...  


...Christmas Galas for 2007 and 2008, with entertainment provided by "The Rochelle Harper Band"...
 
Sharing my creative ideas with others, planning, and coordinating that "event to remember" are some of the reasons I wanted to operate this type of business. I love being a part of creating a memorable celebration that both my clients and their families will cherish. Whatever the mood and setting (romantic, formal, fun, exciting), The Gathering Place is the perfect place to highlight and hold your event. Please contact me for more information.