Kittrell, TN - An annual event enjoyed by former Kittrell School students will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 10 AM to 2 PM. Guess where it will be held this year? KITTRELL SCHOOL, 7801 Old Woodbury Pike. All persons who graduated from Kittrell School, who attended Kittrell School or who have an interest in Kittrell School, are invited to attend.”

Steve Cates said, “A special thank you to the school's new principal, for welcoming the alumni and supporters." He continued, "We had about 140 last year. We have no way to know from one year to the next how many will come."

Cates is a true historian, and noted, "The high school closed, as did others in Rutherford Co., with the opening of Riverdale and Oakland in the fall of 1972. Later on, the 7th and 8th grades were removed and then the 6th grade. It is K-5 today. Last year, Jane Jones Goodwin was our oldest grad present. We start recognizing classes with the oldest grad's class and come forward. We had several present in 2023 who were older than 90. "

The Reunion's Planning Committee is composed of former Kittrell students ( and students of mine), Pam Caffey Rollins, Jennifer Helton Hix, Marie Harrell and Randy Thompson. I am pleased to work with them and proud of the work they do each year to make this happen. 

Ray Ray's Smokehouse food truck will provide a barbecue sandwich, chips, beans and drink for $11.00. There is no admission fee charged, but donations are accepted for expenses for future years.  During the day, various classes will be recognized, starting with the class of the oldest graduate present. Faculty members will also be honored.

When the school first opened, it was a one-room school house that was later added onto with one additional room. Back then, there was only one teacher over the school. The typical semester or “term,” lasted for 3-months, followed by a subscription school for several weeks.

Kittrell School originally opened in 1880 on the same site as the present school. In 1889, P.M. Puryear and C.O. Abernathy deeded one acre of land to the directors of the school, W.R. Jamison, William Arnett and M.E. Pitts.

According to The Rutherford County Historical Society, the school was named after Major Marion Kittrell, a local resident whom the Kittrell Community was eventually named after. Kittrell served in the Civil War as a Major.

Again, remember this year's reunion will actually be at Kittrell School, , 7801 Old Woodbury Pike, thanks to Principal Mrs. Campbell. It will be 10AM - 2PM on Saturday, September 21, 2024. For more information, contact Steve Cates at appdancer@aol.com or call him at 615-896-3559 (no texts).