Green and White or Purple and Gold
If you’ve spotted the purple and gold shirts from a few years ago at Sugar Grove School or maybe noticed an old yearbook and found yourself questioning why they aren’t in the traditional green and white, you’re not alone. This article explores the intriguing story behind how the school’s colors shifted from purple and gold to green and white, along with some fascinating details along the way. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Sugar Grove High School underwent a significant change in its colors. Various theories circulate about when and why this transition occurred. One alumni from the early 1960s recalls that a mistake in ordering new uniforms led to the unexpected color change. Apparently, someone either ordered the wrong color or the company shipped the wrong color, prompting the school to adopt the new colors since they were unable to return the uniforms. This color switch was such a notable event yet it remained largely overlooked for over 50 years, with very few individuals aware of its origins. The 1963 yearbook provides visual evidence of this transition, showcasing both purple and gold uniforms alongside the new green and white ones. For example, the Junior Varsity basketball team sported purple and gold, while the Varsity team donned green and white. Today, it’s rare to find anyone who remembers the original colors or the existence of those purple and gold uniforms. Despite extensive archives maintained by the Sugar Grove School Alumni Group, there are no mentions of the new uniform purchase or any official announcements regarding the color change. It seemed to happen without much fanfare. Another version of the story suggests that Wallace Hutton, a teacher and basketball coach, played a role in officially changing the school colors during the early 1960s. Additionally, one alumni noted that a vote on the color change took place in the spring of 1960, although the reasons for the shift remain unclear. These accounts remain unverified, and alumni with either purple or green letters have shared insights, yet no one seems to pinpoint the exact timing of the transition. Interestingly, none have recounted personal experiences from the period of change or described having a say in the decision. The school’s logo, featuring a maple leaf, has remained consistent over the years. Initially, a crest was used, but the name “Sugar Grove Maple Leafs” has been in place for as long as records show. Some speculate that the color change was motivated by the natural green of maple leaves, with similar reasoning for incorporating gold due to the autumn hues. Yearbooks from 1949 to 1953 prominently featured purple and gold covers, while the first green and white cover appeared in 1961. This trend continued until 1969 when the high school consolidated, leading to a shift in yearbook design. After this consolidation, yearbooks transitioned from hardcovers to a variety of softcover designs, none of which were green and white until 1994, when a green and white theme reemerged. In a nod to its history, Sugar Grove School offered purple and gold shirts during the 2018-2019 school year. If you have additional information about the school colors or related stories that weren’t covered here, I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to share in the comments. For those interested in delving deeper into the school’s history, consider purchasing my book, The History of Sugar Grove School. It features a collection of photos and is a concise yet informative read. If interested, please use the contact form and let me know. Alumni can reconnect with old friends in the Sugar Grove School Alumni Group on Facebook, where you’ll also find digitized copies of yearbooks from 1949 to the present.