Roots to Rockets focus of June luncheon
Special to The Pass Post
The Pass Christian Historical Society will hold its monthly luncheon on Monday, June 22, at noon, featuring Brehm Bell and Matthew Barrett. The duo produced the documentary Roots to Rockets, which honors the communities displaced during the creation of the Stennis Space Center.
The documentary is a tribute to the residents of Gainesville, Napoleon, Santa Rosa, Logtown, Westonia, Bayou Lacroix and Pearlington – communities that were displaced and relocated in the early 1960s, when the U.S. government acquired 125,000 acres of land where the communities stood to build NASA’s main rocket testing facility.
Bell, who grew up in Pearlington, has long been moved by the stories of these displaced families and is dedicated to preserving their remarkable experiences. Bell worked with local videographer Barrett to capture the oral histories of some of the residents and their memories of the communities, including the sacrifices made to ensure the success of the nation’s space program.
The Historical Society is located at 201 East Scenic Drive, and the cost for the luncheon is $15 for members and $17 for non-members. Reservations are needed by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19. To make a reservation or for more information, call 228-452-7254, or email reservations@PassHistory.org. For more information about the program, visit PassHistory.org.
