Photo Karen Graham.
This is one of the expansive front yards established in the Murray Hill development under the Veterans’ Land Act where the minimum lot was 2 acres.
Located north of the western corner of Stewart Line on Preston Road sits one of the first “subdivisions” in Cavan Monaghan. A property owned by Owen Murray at 1 Concession 11 in what was previously known as North Monaghan was purchased by the Veterans’ Land Act (VLA) representatives in the late 1940’s, launching the residential area known by locals in the know as Murray Hill.
Established in 1942, the VLA established a settlement program for soldiers returning from WWII to help them build a home and integrate into their communities upon their return. It provided eligible Veterans with low-interest loans to purchase land, livestock and farm equipment, and was later extended to include discharged members of veterans who had served in the Korean War as well. The program stopped receiving new applications in March, 1975.
Veterans applied for aid through a regional advisory board or loan board. Among the eligibility requirements was 365 days of paid service in Canada or to have served overseas. The VLA supervised the building of the home and the CMHA supervised the mortgage loan which was roughly 3.5% interest, which at the time was below market. Up to $6000 was available for land, and building materials, of which the veteran was required to raise 10%, as well as any expenses beyond this limit. Up to $1200 was also available for livestock and farm equipment, where the veteran contribution was 20%.
Its predecessor program, the Soldier Settlement Act (SSA), promoted farm settlement, but the establishment of successful farm operations proved to be more challenging for returning soldiers than expected. The VLA resettlement program provided support for smaller parcels of land in order to help urban workers enjoy the benefits of rural living instead of trying to make them farmers. At first the minimum lot size was ½ acre, but properties that size faced high property taxes as this was larger than existing lots. The program switched gears, with the objective of developing urban fringe areas instead of subsidizing city homes. The minimum size for lots outside of city limits became two to three acres, with the idea that the new homeowners would have space to produce some of their own food. By 1961, this lot size became too expensive, so the minimum lot size was brought back down to half an acre.
Photo Karen Graham.
Murray Hill
The Murray Hill parcel was developed before that lot size reduction, so this property was divided into 43 plots of roughly two acres each. By 1955, less than ten lots remained undeveloped. Many of these homes appear to retain their original foot prints, the small buildings surrounded by expansive yards on all sides. They are the antithesis of homes in modern subdivisions today which feature large homes on postcard lots where frontages of 50’ are considered generous.
Elaine and her late husband Lyal Gillespie were among those who built a home under this program, purchasing lot 11 in the Murray Hill development which was registered as Plan 79. Elaine has enjoyed this home for the past 62 years and took an active role in her North Monaghan community where she was employed for a time as the township’s dog catcher. Even at the outset, she and her husband felt that the two acre lot size was larger than they needed. In subdivision plans today, each of these lots would accommodate many more homes.
Other local VLA developments include ones in Peterborough on Rothesay Ave.(also in Cavan Monaghan), Spillbury Dr., and Maple Grove Drive. KG
