Still Gathering!

Class reunions serve as an endearing American tradition where old friends and classmates gather to review their shared school experiences and cherished (or forgettable) memories. In time, with age and dwindling attendance, these reunions sometimes disappear. Not so with a group of hardy public schoolers who still keep their school's legacy alive.

The Iddles School: 98 Years Holding Reunions
​Submitted by Clare Adkin

Iddles, a one-room country school located in southwest Allegan County Michigan, open in 1859 in a small log structure. In 1867, in a manner reminiscent of a community barn raising, it was replaced with a frame school house. The second school house served until the turn of the century when it was replaced by a modern red brick school house. Iddles ceased as an independent school district in 1962 when it voted to annex with Fennville Public Schools.

It was certified as District #3, Casco Township, Allegan County, MI. Iddles operated as an independent K-8 school until 1962 when it annexed to Fennville Public Schools. Fennville utilized the school for three more years for grades 2-3.

During the summer of 1928, Mary Litts, the daughter of the school’s builder, Thomas Iddles, organized an all-school reunion. From the start past and present students, their families and teachers were invited. Nearly 100 attended the first reunion potluck and its popularity demanded the planning of a second for the following year.

Iddles has held an annual all-school reunion starting in 1928 and is currently planning to celebrate #99 on July 19, 2026. Loyal alumni are determined to celebrate number 100 next year. Iddles alumni believe they are members of the longest running annual one-room school reunion both in Michigan and nationally. So far no one has stepped forward to dispute their claim.

And so a tradition began that has never been broken, even during the height of the 2020 Pandemic. The youngest alum is over 65 years old. 32 alumni attended last summer’s 2025 reunion which included Thomas Iddles’ Great-Great-Grandson, Brian Iddles.

Jane Ann Nally in 2018 was the last Iddles teacher to attend a reunion. Jane Ann began her teaching career in 1952 at Iddles but could not sign her contract until the start of school, having to wait until she turned 18. 

Question: Does Iddles have the longest running consecutive year all-school reunion for one-room schools in the United States? Iddles alumni think so!

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Clare Adkins in front of sadly crumbling Iddles School

Seated L-R Linda Stennett Wauchek, LeRoy Hogle, Kay Kuney Brush, Mary Ann Adkin Schlack, Chuck Stennett, Sharon Jerue Kuiper Middle Row L-R LuAnn Rainey Winfrey, April Adkin Wright, Larry Osman, Joanne Dailey McCauslin, Sally Stevens, Dora Lee Ransom Young, Sue Adkin Asher, Rose Ransom Merriweather, Dawn Osman Bronson, Dawn Clark Roose, Renee Kark Wilkinson, Dian Schlack Liepe, Judy Dailey Chatterson, Nora Dailey Drew Back Row L-R Martin Overhiser, Ted Stevens, Clare Adkin, Holly Adkin Wohlfert, Gary Flora (in hat), Robert Osman, Craig Osman, Tim Stennett, Russ Latchaw, Brian Iddles, Dorothy Stennett, Sharon Cope Parrett. Barb Latchaw Perrin attended but was not in the picture.