Before 1912 the McIntyre Ranching Company, sub-leased a
90,000 acre tract of land between the United States
boundary and the north branch of the Milk River from
the Knight Sugar Company, which had held the land under
lease from the Government of Canada since 1902.

By the time the McIntyre lease land was formally thrown
open to homestead application on May 1, 1912 the intense
and wide spread interest of potential homesteaders had
already created the "last great land rush of Southern
Alberta." In anticipation of the opportunity, 40 people
camped at the door of the land title office a month
in advance. Land seekers pitched tents and fashioned
improvised shelters with blankets fastened to fenses.

On May 1, some 350 applicants filed for homesteads in
"The Lease Country." The pioneer settlers and
succeeding generations converted the open range
to a region of farming, ranching and oil extraction,
developing communities around the original school
districts at Twin Rivers, Del Bonita, Lens, Rinard,
Shanks Lake and Hillmer.

Cairn at Del Bonita

To the Original Homesteaders and early settlers of the "The
Lease Country", for the hardships and sacrifices they endured
to establish the community, we, the citizens of this generation,
gratefully erect and dedicate this Cairn.

Return to Towns, Villiages, Hamlets, and Cities