Mayor Haddix has misspoken again. There is no historical fact in Haddix’s statements in the May 23rd Citizen concerning the founding of the Gathering Place.
When Peachtree City began, folks who lived here came from everywhere else – it was a new community. They formed friendships and got together for group activities.
One of those groups of folks 55 and older met at a local church. They called themselves the “Pioneers” and had luncheons twice a month.
Marcie Curry Williams, who ran the Recreation Department, asked her employee, Pat Webster, to be in charge of recreation for the seniors as a Leisure Program Coordinator.
As meeting space became short in the church, City Councilwoman Annie McMenamin suggested that a larger space be found. The Pioneers found a “home” in the commercial space at Aberdeen.
The seniors did most of the refurbishing of the space themselves and the city supplied some workmen and supplies.
The Pioneers had a contest to name the facility and both Hilda Bourdeau and Jenny and Lynn Cash came up with the name “The Gathering Place,” which won the prize – being first in line for the luncheon for a year.
As the number of seniors attending the facility increased, Councilwoman McMenamin suggested that the Pioneers work to get a referendum for a larger facility on the next ballot. They were successful and the vote passed.
Construction of the current Gathering Place began in 1994 and Mayor Robert Lenox was on hand to cut the ribbon when the new Gathering Place opened in 1997.
The Gathering Place began and continues to be for the seniors of Peachtree City. There was never any “discussion along the way” of the building’s purpose, as Haddix claimed, nor did seniors gradually increase their use of the center “over time” as Haddix also claimed. The remainder of his article is also full of untruths.
The establishment of the Gathering Place did not just happen. Please remember and honor these Peachtree City residents who worked so hard for a place to meet and be active.
Bonnie Mullikin
Peachtree City, Ga.
