Reevesville Reunions

How It All Started

Since September 1998, a group of folks have gathered once a year — usually the last weekend of September — to celebrate and share fond memories, old pictures, and old tales of days gone by in the small community of Reevesville, Illinois.

Several people had mentioned and desired such a get-together for many years. However, it took the action of one individual, Wayne Burnham, to get it started. Back in the 1950s and 60s, Wayne used to "hang out", as scores of others did, at the ICRR Café — better known as the Reevesville Restaurant. Once Wayne got everyone together for the 1st "Reevesville Restaurant Reunion", it has since been an annual event.

The name was later changed to "The Reevesville Reunion" because the organizers didn't want to limit it to old patrons of the restaurant. Past and present residents of Reevesville and anyone with ties to the surrounding communities of Grantsburg, Benton, New Columbia, Big Bay, and Massac and Pope Counties are invited and welcome to share in the fun.

Train crews operating passing steam engines always looked forward to stopping to refuel with coal and water and eat some of the finest home-style cooking found anywhere along the route. As diesel power replaced steam, the I.C. Café continued operating for years, supported by the public that came to know it as home of great food and entertainment. Everyone looked forward to the live music, dancing, pinochle, and pinball that remained popular weekend activities.