RICEVILLE SCHOOL REUNION OF 100 YEARS AGO - Historical Albion Michigan

On the northwest corner of Erie and Gibbs Roads in Jackson County east of Albion once sat the Riceville Schoolhouse. This particular rural school was used from the early 1850s until its closure in June, 1962. The school and area was named after the pioneer Rice family which lived in the area. The former school district was annexed into the Concord Public Schools in 1962 after being turned down by the Albion Public Schools.

The Riceville Schoolhouse was donated to the Paddock-Hubbard House Museum in Concord several years ago, and was moved from its original site in March, 1995 to Concord. It has been undergoing restoration since then and will be turned into a country school museum.

Our purpose this week is to feature a special photograph from 100 years ago. It is of a Riceville School picnic, held in 1897 or 1898 in the yard of Mr. and Mrs. Wells Smith. At that time Sara Stevens was the teacher. This photograph is courtesy of Rita (Overy) Hallas, daughter of Maud (Pennell) Overy (1876-1983). Maud is in the photograph and many years ago wrote down the names of most of the people in the photo. Unfortunately the names of persons in exact rows that Maud wrote down is hard to decipher, and will have to be interpreted upon examination with the original photograph.

From our Historical Notebook this week we present that photograph, along with some of the names of persons in the photo. If you think you might recognize someone, let me know. Clary Ray, Stanley Noakes, Ethel Noakes, Jennie Cuatt, Edith Smith, Iva Doolittle, Clara Stevens, Lura Bishop, Floy Borner, Lura and May Cuatt, Edna Bishop, Iva Borner, Ray Borner, Mrs. William Lines, Martha Barkley, Helen Barkley, Maggie Bakley, Lizzie Barkley, James Barkley, Mabel Lines, Robert McDonald, Roy Lines, Mrs. Knapp, two Collings girls, Anna Ray, Maud Pennell, Elsie Bishop, Bertha Pratt, Dora Abbott, George Overy, Addie Lines, Cora Ray, Harold Ray, Minnie Horton, Maud Knapp Brigham, Mrs. Will Borner, Carrie Fleming White, Mr. and Mrs. Logan, and Lena Overy.

	Frank Passic — Albion Historian An Albion native and 1971 graduate of Albion High School, Frank Passic has been researching and writing Albion history since 1976. He is the creator of the Albion Historical Notebook, with hundreds of articles appearing weekly in the Morning Star and The Recorder. Frank maintains an extensive personal archive including Riverside Cemetery records, family surname files, genealogies, photographs, city directories, and high school yearbooks. Support his 2026 research at the Historic Albion Michigan Facebook page. Historical Notebook \| From the Archives \| Subject List \| 100 Years Ago \| Alphabetical Index \| Frank Passic Home Page \| Albion History Books \| Contact Frank
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