After 12 years, the title of the Piedmont Hotel in Gainesville has changed hands to The Longstreet Society. The group began the process of working with the Gainesville-Hall Trust for Historic Preservation earlier this year to own the historic hotel at 827 Maple St. “We had a board meeting of the Gainesville-Hall Trust for Historic Preservation and that board agreed that it would be appropriate (to transfer the title) because The Longstreet Society is the holder of everything (in) the building and we occupy the building and provide all the services,” said Peter Claymore, president of The Longstreet Society. Now with the title, The Longstreet Society is kicking off a fundraising drive to pay off the about $48,000 loan on the building, which was opened in 1876 by Lt. Gen. James Longstreet.