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-17- Lot 15 Con 12 E.B.R. This was sene years later as the records show that John haclvor was secretary treasurer for 1873 and '74-, Peter Cameron 1878â€"9. (Wood in those days bid at frOm 40 cents to 55 cents per cord.) The first school house was built and completed in 1871 and was constructed of logs with desks running lengthwise and with long wooden benches for seats. During these early days it served as Orange Hall and church. The first teachers were: Miss Jane Greer, hiss Brown 1872; miss Ryder 1873:. All these were too early for my recollection, in fact, my earliest recollection of any of these teachers was of William wilfrid Campbell afterwards known as "Poet of the Lakes." He was also made auditor in 1878 and secretary 1879. by recollection of Mr. Campbell was only slight as I was only l years old at the time. Mr. Aaron Sims, a jolly person followed him. At a meeting held on April 2, 1887, it was agreed that the section borrow t300.00 from the Albemarle Council to erect a new building. In 1888, $303.00 was paid to burdock Cameron to build the school on its present site. hr. Josiah Crawford held the position of secretary and treasurer for many years. HISTORY OF ST. THOMAS CHURCHl PURPLE VALhfiY: In the year 1882, the Rev. T.S. Campbell, missionary minister of Wiarton mission, started rendering services in the school house on the 12th Concession known as the Hatchorn school hOuse and continued giving services for some time. nev. Stout, Rev. A. Brown, Rev. V. Henderson continued services in the old school. Seeing it was more desirable to have a more suitable glues of worship, a meeting of the congregation was held in the spring of 1888 at the residence of F.h. Bell. It was decided almost unanimously to erect a church on the farm of hr. Bell, he offering to give free a half acre of land any place on his land for the purpose. The site chosen was the corner of his property known as Bells Corner. The building committee elected were: Thos. Rydall, George Howe, James :ettman, I.W. Bell, Mr. Bell to act as secretary. The committee gave the contract to John Rydall. The first service held in it was Sept. 23, 1888 with Rev. E.W. Hughes in charge. Morning services were held at 10:30 and later evening services at 6:30. The first collection which amounted to $8.36 went to the building fund. At the end of the year they had a balance of 821.24