Purple Grove

History

Purple Grove, located in Bruce County, was a small farming settlement that came to life in the early 1870s. Although farms existed in the area for a number of years, Purple Grove was never an official community until John Logan opened a post office in 1876. Early settlers included John Blackwell, Thomas Hill Sr., Thomas Scott and Richard Stanley, who arrived in the early to mid-1850s. Many of the early settlers came from Ireland.

John Logan, a blacksmith by trade, arrived in the area during the mid-1870s. He began with a blacksmith shop, followed by the post office. Logan reportedly chose the name “Purple Grove” in part from the purple degree he attained from the Orange Lodge and in part from the suggestion of his neighbour, Sandy McLaren, who had a large beech grove. In 1879 Logan purchased adjacent lands on Lot 5, Concession 12 from Harry Congram.

A school was located two buildings south of the blacksmith shop. There was a Methodist Church located at the north end of the lot near the township line of Kincardine. In 1891 another Methodist Church was built on Lot 6, Concession 11. Over time this church became well known both for its excellent Sunday school, superb garden parties and for the efforts of the Epworth League and Ladies Aid. Despite the popularity of the church and its involvement in local activities, the church closed in 1925 following church union.

Purple Grove does not appear to have had any businesses or industries. All things considered, the principal activity in the area has always been farming. Mail arrived at John Logan’s post office three times weekly from Ripley. Farmers shipped out product depending on availability. Rural mail delivery replaced the post office in 1915.

Telephones arrived in 1911 with the formation of the Huron-Kinloss Telephone System, later Hurontel (Huron Telecommunications Co-operative Ltd.). Hydro finally arrived in 1948. Other post World War II improvements followed, such as dial telephones in 1959 and busing of children to high school. The government centralized the school system in 1963 which led to the closing of all rural school in the area. The school in Purple Grove was turned into a community centre which is available for use for a wide variety of community activities.

Farm based activities continued in Purple Grove for many years. Farm based forums were active until 1965. A Women’s Institute, organized in 1947, remains extremely active by holding courses and 4H clubs in the community centre. The remainder of the area is primarily farmland.