It's so easy for relatives to keep in touch, Not just brothers and sisters, but aunts and uncles and cousins, even if they live far away.  Just pick up a phone.  I've had conversations with my relatives that always end with Hope to see you soon!  However, arrangements were never made.  I know a family where a meeting date is always set.

I’m a guest at the the Humm family reunion. About 240 people have come to Picnicana Park in Summit Township for this annual family party. They reserved all the pavilions. This event is always held in Erie on the second weekend in July and it's been that way for 100 years. Yes. This family has been getting together every summer for a century no matter how far apart many of them reside. They carry on a tradition of love.

"We're very blessed that we are close because of this and we continue to thrive knowing that that's in our past and in our future,” says Pete Kaiser, who serves as the family historian.

Here's how this longtime family reunion started.  Anton and Matilda Humm married in Erie in 1893. Both were immigrants from the same city in Germany but didn't meet until they moved here. Anton and Matilda had 8 children over 17 years. Their current offspring totals over 400.  Just about every year since 1920 there's been an addition to the Humm family tree.

"From then until now, there's nine years where we don't have somebody that was born in our relation,” says Pete.

Every year since 1926, family members have held a reunion party and the 100th edition has arrived. There's tons of food to fill up your plate. Lots of cold beer to fill up your stein. There's always traditional games that are played including bingo. Of course, there's lots of time to reminisce with family members. Memories are shared of past reunions when people who are now grandparents were the children in the family.

"Oh my God. We looked forward to them. It was so much fun,” says Marlene Smith, who serves on the planning committee. “We had teeter totter, horseshoes. All the aunts and uncles were there. Hot dogs and great food and just being with your cousins."

What a fun time! It's been a marvelous 100 years.

This year, family members from as far away as California are attending the reunion. By the way, the Humm family has an interesting connection to Erie history. Matilda Humm, who immigrated to Erie from Germany, was the maid for the Koehler family who owned the famous Koehler brewery in the city.