The question has been answered! But why not test your knowledge! Is the photo what we feared it was? The answer is on the bottom of this page!
Below is a photo of what I believe is a purple loosestrife plant growing near the east border of my prairie planting. In the woods abutting the prairie are more of these plants. The height varies from two to six feet tall. The photographed plant was about 6 feet tall. If you can positively identify this plant as purple loosestrife, please let me know!
Our site's history: This is a 2.7 acre field surrounded by woodland and steep ravines on three sides. Before being seeded to prairie plants it was an agricultural field for many years (corn, soybeans, alfalfa). Prior to that it was an orchard (probably until the late 50's). The field was planted to prairie grasses and forbs in autumn of 2001. The prairie species are growing robustly.
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Several kind people responded to my question from the Meadows and Prairies Forum. They have identified the mystery plant as a Campanula, also known as the Bellflower. This plant is harmless and pretty. It prefers the edges of our woodland and partially shaded areas of the prairie planting.