Est. 1893
The original Paisley Creamery building can be found on Mill Drive. The creamery was initially created by Sam Ballachey in 1893. The business was an immediate success. When the creamery closed for the season in November of 1901, it was reported that over 100,000 pounds (about 45359.2 kg) of butter had been produced and had circulated around $20,000 for the season. In 1908, Ballachey leased the already successful creamery to Mr. John Logie and his partner Mr. Irwin. In 1919, Logie and Irwin purchased an abandoned brick building located on Queen Street North and moved operations there. The original Creamery building sat empty until, in 1924, the building became the Paisley Cider Mill after being bought by Henry Hergott.
The new site for the Paisley Creamery was originally the Northern Hotel (Sergison Hotel), built around 1869. It was then the Paisley Port Packing Company operated by H. Coleman from 1886. Coleman then moved his business to Kincardine, leaving the building vacant until 1919 when Logie and Irwin purchased it.
John A. Logie
John A. Logie was born on November 20, 1879, in Nassagaweya Township. After moving to Paisley, he remained a prominent figure in the community beyond just being a co-owner of the Paisley Creamery. He also served as a Warden of Bruce County from 1941 to 1942.
This portrait of Logie comes from the photography studio of J.W. Rogers, in Guelph, Ont. It was taken between 1905 and 1920. [BCM&CC Archives, A2025.032.004]
Best in Butter
It appears that in March 1923, Paisley Creamery bought out the Underwood Creamery in Clinton, thus expanding their operations. Underwood was mainly a butter-making business, but under the direction of Logie, this may have changed.
During the heyday of the Paisley Creamery, Logie entered the business into the 1928 Royal Winter Fair held in Toronto. The fair was the first national agricultural exhibition which highlighted the best of Canadian farming and livestock. The fair also featured culinary competitions which Logie entered with butter produced by his creamery. He ended up winning the butter competition with the highest individual score, and Logie took home the sweepstakes prize, the George S. Henry Silver Trophy.
Dairy Denouement
After many successful years of business under Logie, the Creamery was purchased by Peter Cutter in 1949 and remained in operation until April 1958. The business was then bought out by U.D.P.C. Tara and used as a receiving station for the Tara operation. It was also used as an egg-grading station until 1968. The Creamery officially closed in 1987. The building was torn down in preparation for a new Knechtel grocery store. Today the site is home to the Paisley Freshmart.
The Bruce County Museum holds many artifacts and documents connected to the Paisley Creamery. These include photographs of the original Creamery location, equipment, business directories, and the trophy from the previously mentioned Royal Winter Fair.
Written by Danielle Walls, BCM&CC Collections volunteer.
Sources:
- “History Speaks,” An Historic Album of Paisley. Accessed July 7, 2025. https://deeprootstalltrees.com/PaisleyAlbum/HistorySpeaks.shtml.
- MacKay, Mary I. “The Ballachey Story.” Paisley: The Paisley Advocate, 2013. Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre. A2014.010.001.
- MacKinnon, Judith. “Paisley: A Settler’s Dream” 2022. Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre. A2025.015.001. Print.
- “Paisley Creamery Co. Acquires Another Plant,” The Paisley Advocate. March 21, 1923. Accessed July 14, 2025. The_Paisley_Advocate_1923-03-21.pdf
- “Prominent Townsman, Ex-Warden of Bruce, John A. Logie Passes” in scrapbook.” Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre. A2014.003.0554a.
- “The Paisley Heritage Walk” Paisley: Paisley & District of Commerce, Revised 2008. Accessed July 14, 2025. PDC_HER_BRO_0208.pub
- “Throwback Thursday: The Paisley Creamery,” Treasure Chest Museum. Facebook. August 12, 2021. Accessed July 7, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/paisleytreasurechestmuseum/posts/2900402840198659/ .
Slider Photographs
- Original Paisley Creamery building, ca. 1893. BCM&CC Archives. A2025.032.003: A2025.032.003 – Photograph | Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre
- Paisley Creamery parade float, 1907. BCM&CC Archives, A2025.032.001: A2025.032.001 – Photograph | Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre
- John A. Logie in office of former Paisley Creamery, 1912. BCM&CC Archives, A2025.032.002: A2025.032.002 – Photograph | Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre
- Red milk can used at Paisley Creamery. ca. 1920. BCM&CC Collecion, 2025.008.001: 2025.008.001 – Can, Milk | Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre
- Silver cup trophy for the “Honorable George S. Henry Sweepstake Prize for Creamery Butter”, awarded to John Logie & the Paisley Creamery at the 1928 Royal Winter Fair [detail]. BCM&CC Collection, 2025.004.001: 2025.004.001 – Trophy | Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre
