A Brief History of Our "Orchard"

by Pat Clysdale, 1993

Have you ever wondered about the people who lived in this area before us? From pioneers to developers, they each put a lot of themselves into this land and shouldn't be forgotten.

The Pioneers

The earliest pioneers settled along the Richmond road in the early 1800's. The area was settled primarily by Irish immigrants after the 1830's. Dr. Bruce Elliott in "The City Beyond" wrote, "The soil was not of the best but the ridge had a stony base and was dry and easy to clear. And once cleared it was not subject to flooding as were the heavier clays. The area was thus a better prospect for immigrants who lacked capital." As the pioneer families became established, the homestead farms gradually moved to more fertile areas but ownership of the land on the ridge remained within the original families.

From the late 1920's to the late 1960's, the four farms which were located on the site of our present community were farmed by family members of the original settlers. Three of the farmers were bachelors: Allen Houlahan, Conlon O'Keefe and George Burns. The fourth, Leo Moylan, married late in life to a woman from Goulbourne Township.

The Houlahan Farm

The Allen Houlahan farm was located at the corner of Fallowfield and Cerdarview roads. Some still remember the abandoned house and barn that were torn down several years ago. Mr. Kenneth Houlahan who still lives on Fallowfield Road, remembers that the barn was built by Allen's father in 1930. The Houlahan homestead farm was on the other side of Cedarview Road and was expropriated for the Experimental Farm. A family of fourteen, including Allen, was raised in the homestead farm. Mrs. Wilma Dunn (nee Neill) was born and raised in the red brick house still standing on the opposite site of Fallowfield Road. She remembers Allen as an honorable man and a wonderful neighbour. He used to go to the dances and was a smart dresser. He died suddenly in 1968, and the priest who attended him, Father Lunny, so impressed Mr. Neill (a pillar of the United Church) that he requested the priest take part in his own funeral which was soon after.

The O'Keefe Farm

Conlon O'Keefe's farm was beside the Houlahan farm along Fallowfield Road. It is now mainly the Fallowfield Park and the Dibblee land beyond it. Conlon O"Keefe was a wonderful character and a fine man. He did like to stop occasionally at the hotel for refreshments before making the long return trip from the Byward Market on Saturday night. (Fortunately, the horses knew the way home.)

Conlon had a long-standing rivalry with his neighbour, George Burns, but it was probably more show than substance because then, as now, neighbours helped each other in times of need. For example, in the late 1930's, Conlon O'Keefe lost his house to fire. Conlon wasn't a man to use banks, and as it became evident to the group of neighbours that the house could not be saved, he told them he had a lot of money in the baking soda tin in the basement. Conlon's supposed rival, George Burns, was the first one to offer to hold the rope to drop him down and pull him out in order to retrieve the tin: which they did.

Despite the loss of his house to fire, Conlon O'Keefe did not die a poor man. This could have been due in part to a rich Uncle, Cornelius O'Keefe, who went west to the gold rush and ended up ranching in the Okanagan valley. Uncle Cornelius took a 162 acre ranch and expanded it to more than 15,000 acres before he died in 1919. His land is now a popular heritage park near Vernon, B.C.

The Moylan Farm

The Leo Moylan farm of 64 1/3 acres was next to Houlahan's farm along Cedarview Road. It had an access for George Burns to get to his 35 2/3 acres behind it. Only 35 acres of the Moylan farm was cultivated and it was very stony. The rest supported seven cows and many pigs, sheep and hens. The farm cultivated hay, wheat and corn. They also grew apples in the orchard (hence our link to history via "Orchard Estates").

In the early 60's, when he was too old to farm, Leo Moylan made a deal to sell his land for $18,000. He didn't realize the fine print said that he wouldn't get any money for ten years. Devastated, he turned to a neighbour, Doug Hopper who lived on the other side of Cedarview across the Log Farm, where his barn still stands. Doug helped him to break this contract and bought the land less two acres, including Moylan's small house to live in himself, for $20,000. This in spite of Mr. Hopper having been nearly wiped out by a serious fire. Further proof that these were good people who always pitched in to help each other. Mr. Hopper was to reap his reward when he resold the land!

Mr. Moylan lived to age 93. During 60's, Moylan's two acre lot was acquired by Ray Parris, a trucker. Subsequently, the house burnt down and Mr. Parris then lived in the trailer. By the late 60's, the farmers had either passed away or were too old to work on the land. Since they had no descendants, the way was paved for the developers.

The information was provided by Mr. Doug Hopper, Mrs. Velma Dunn and Mr. Ken Houlahan.

Thank you!