Blue Ridge

Duane's take

Here's the story as the official marker tells it, my job's just to carry it down the road to you. Now, if you've ever driven northeast Collin County on a morning when the light's still low and the air's got that soft quality to it, you might've noticed how the land does something unexpected out here. It rises.

And on that rise, back before any town had a name, there grew a grass that, from a distance, threw off a blue haze. Not quite blue, not quite purple, just that particular shade that makes you think the hill itself is breathing color. That's what the pioneers saw.

And that's what they called it. Blue Ridge. Those pioneers started arriving in the 1830s, settling in between Desert Creek and Pilot Grove Creek, finding their footing on that hilltop ground.

The deed records reach back to a man named Matthew Mowry, who received a Republic of Texas land grant for his services in the war for Independence from Mexico. That's not a small thing to have on your land paperwork, a Republic of Texas grant. Other early settlers followed: Isadore Boren came in and put down roots seven miles southeast of town, in what's now known as the Arnold Community.

Wilson McDonald. John Bowman. And a man named W.C.

Holmes, who served the distinction of being the first doctor in the area. The country was growing, and somebody had to tend to it. By the time the 1870s rolled around, Blue Ridge was starting to look like something.

The first store opened just south of the town square, one room, log cabin, nothing fancy, operated by William and James Moyers. One room to buy what you needed, and you were grateful for it. Soon enough came a one-room school.

The Blue Ridge Masonic Lodge No. 490. The J.A. Barnett Cotton Gin.

And then the town square itself filled in: a variety store, a dentist office, the Blue Ridge National Bank, a hardware store. Cotton was king out here, and the two gins in town kept busy. Farmers and ranchers were raising cotton, corn, wheat, oats, hay, and cattle, that was the livelihood, and Blue Ridge was the hub of it.

Now here's a detail that says something about the character of the place. Until 1895, every single church service in Blue Ridge was held in the schoolhouse. The first Methodist church had organized back in 1880.

The Baptists organized in 1885. Citizens recalled an active Church of Christ as early as 1890. Three congregations, one building, and they took turns.

Methodists, Baptists, Church of Christ, rotating through the same schoolhouse doors. There's a patience in that arrangement, and maybe a little grace, that's worth remarking on. The town kept building.

In 1937, the high school went up, constructed with Works Progress Administration labor. New schools and businesses followed as the years moved along, drawn in by the same thing that pulled the pioneers in the first place, that beautiful countryside, that hilltop, that blue-hazed grass between two creeks. Blue Ridge.

Named for what you see before you ever arrive. And if the light's right when you pass through, you'll understand exactly why.

What the marker says

Located in northeast Collin County and positioned between Desert and Pilot Grove Creeks, Blue Ridge was named for its hilltop location and the blue-flowering grass in the area. From a distance, the grass looked like a blue haze. Pioneers began to settle this area in the 1830s. Deed records date back to Matthew Mowry who received a Republic of Texas land grant for services in the war for Independence from Mexico. Other early settlers were Isadore Boren, who settled seven miles southeast of town in present-day Arnold Community, Wilson McDonald, John Bowman and W.C. Holmes, the first doctor. In the 1870s, the first store in a one-room log cabin opened just south of the town square, operated by William and James Moyers. Other early establishments were a one-room school, the Blue Ridge Masonic Lodge No. 490 and the J.A. Barnett Cotton Gin, along with the variety store, dentist office, Blue Ridge National Bank and hardware store on the town square. Many people in the area were farmers and ranchers and flocked to the two gins located here. Raising cotton, corn, wheat, oats, hay and cattle provided the livelihood for many. The first Methodist church was organized in 1880 and the first Baptist church organized in 1885. Citizens recall an active Church of Christ as early as 1890. Until 1895, all church services were held in the schoolhouse, with each denomination taking turns. In 1937, the high school was constructed with works progress administration labor. With an increase in population, new schools and businesses have been established as the beautiful countryside of Blue Ridge continues to attract people to the area.