Queen's Acres

Many Roman Catholics believe that the root of modern social unrest is the separation of city people, especially industrial workers, from the soil. In Ohio last week a Catholic Rural Life Bureau director was engaged in a small back-to-the-land experiment to bring them together. The experimenter: Father Joseph V. Urbain, pastor of Queen of Peace Church, Millville (30 miles north of Cincinnati; population: 400).

In 1942 Father Urbain bought 140 acres for $10,000. He subdivided the land into

100 "baby farms," is now selling them to his parishioners at $250 a half acre. Profits will go toward paving streets, installing a water and sewer system. Father Urbain's purchasers may not subdivide their plots, must sign a pledge to build a house at the war's end.

For their settlement buyers have chosen the name Queen's Acres, in honor of the Virgin Mary. Streets (to be laid out later) will also bear religious names: Santa Maria Place, Regina Lane, Salvatore Place.

The development now includes the original farmhouse, 30 cows (Father Urbain owns 15), a shrine on every farm. Later there will be a communal barn for cows which will graze on a communal pasture. But Father Urbain does not consider that collectivism: "It's the very opposite of that. It will make the people individualists, keep them from having to sit in the city and push buttons."

When houses are built on Queen's Acres, Father Urbain plans a school for the children. He will welcome Protestant farmers at Queen's Acres, will not insist that their children attend his school. "But," he adds, "we won't mind making converts."

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