Heaven Sent

While I was walking along Kingsway I happen upon a large purple building, Purdy's Chocolates so today I am going to show you some photos and tell you about this Vancouver company.

In 1907 Richard Carmon Purdy opened his first chocolate shop at 915 Robson Street. Purdy was born on January 20, 1878 in London Ontario.

Purdy married Sophia Stewart and on January 18, 1900 their son Frederick Wesley was born. A census in 1901 listed Richard Purdy not only as head of household but one who had an occupation as a barber.

Tragedy struck in 1903 when young Frederick died. Following the death of his son Purdy moved to BC to start a new life.

Purdy's initial endeavour into the chocolate business was quite a success. Soon he couldn't keep up with his customers' demands and opened a second shop at 675 Granville Street across from the Hudson Bay Company.

In 1914 Richard Purdy established his corporate entity, R.C. Purdy Chocolates Limited.

In 1918 Purdy moved his Robson Street store to 990 Granville Street.

In 1925 Richard Purdy was forced into receivership. Fortunately his creditors thought that the company was worth saving and sent in a bookkeeper by the name of Hugh Forrester to reorganize and help save the chocolate manufacturer.

Forrester was able to start paying back the creditors and within a few years and eliminated the mountain of debt. However the  creditors who had saved the company were not interested in running it so they sold it to Forrester for $1.

And Purdy? Well he had taken a hit but he wasn't out. It wasn't long before he was selling his chocolates, made in his kitchen, from a rolling cart on Granville Street.

It wasn't long before he opened a new chocolate shop called Window Made Candy in Burnaby. Purdy ran the store quite successfully until retiring.

In February of 1941 Richard Carmon Purdy changed his name to Norman R. Purdy. A year later, at the age of 66, Norman R. Purdy died.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Karen Magill, Vancouver, Purdy's Chocolates, London Ontario, Granville Street, Robson Street, British Columbia