In 1890, members of the Wilson-Thompson family decided that a family reunion would be most appropriate and that June 18, 1891 would be a target date. A committee was formed to plan the event. The committee selected Thompson’s Island (later called Worthington Island) as the best location for this now historic event. But why there? Storms caused the first reunion to be postponed until June 20, 1891.

But regardless of the date, how were family members to get to Thompson’s Island for the reunion? Afterall it was quite a distance to the Rushland/Wrightstown Twp area? There was no automobile (the Ford’s Model T or `the people’s car’ as it was called didn’t arrive until 1908) or air travel transportation (the Wright brothers didn’t fly in Kity Hawk NC until 1903). Horse and buggy were available, so long as your horse didn’t throw a shoe. But given that horses walk about 4 miles per hour it would take several hours and even days from distances. With such limited options, the Wilson-Thompson family reunion might not get off the ground.

Communication was limited, primarily by mail. Telephone was available to few, having just been invented in the late 1870s. No internet or GPS of course. But somehow, 108 family members made it to the location of the first reunion, 133 made it the next year, 124 made it in 1893, and 158 made it in 1894, 140 in 1895, and 120 in 1896! Minutes from those first reunions show that most came from communities in Bucks County BUT some folks came from New York City, Chicago ILL, Brooklyn NY, Philadelphia, Buffalo NY, New Jersey, Richmond VA, and other distant locales. But how did they get there?

The answer: Although it may not be obvious today, a rail line called the North East Pennsylvania Railroad once had a few rail lines serving the needs of rural Pennsylvania communities (Wrightstown Township—A Tricentennial History). One of the rail stations was the Kirkland (or Rushland as its now called) Station. It opened in 1891, how convenient! It is located at 1068 Swamp Road at Old Sackettsford Road in Bucks County.

The station was less than a mile from Thompson’s Island. Family members could pick-up the out of towners and shuttle them to and from the reunion. The station was a wooden structure made in 1890, although the station today is vacant. The railroad made the early reunions accessible to many, and the reunion continues to this day!

Now we know the answer.