Description of Historic Place

Munn's Cemetery is located at 2 Dundas Street East on the southeast corner of Dundas Street East and Sixth Line in the Town of Oakville. The forested cemetery was established in 1820.

The property was designated by the Town of Oakville in 1993 for its heritage value under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act (By-law 1993-21).

Heritage Value

Munn's Cemetery is associated with the area's earliest pioneers and prominent local Daniel Munn. Munn secured a crown grant in 1808 and although primarily a farmer, he established a tavern and stagehouse. As the area became a favourite destination for travellers on Governor's Road, it became known as Munn's corner. When the first church was established, Munn sold a small plot of land to the church for a cemetery.

Established in 1820, Munn's Cemetery is a good example of 19th century cemetery design. It is characterised by a naturalistic setting to attract and comfort the living, the use of markers and monuments to perpetuate the memory of individuals and a park-like layout for public use. True to the original plan, gravesites are marked with separate individual markers.

At its setting on the southeast corner of Dundas Street East and Sixth Line and across from Munn's United Church, Munn's Cemetery is an important reminder of the small hamlet known as Munn's Corners.

Source: Town of Oakville, By-law 1993-21.

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of Munn's Cemetery include its:
- location on a prominent corner lot
- situation across the street from Munn's United Church
- variety of styles, materials and symbolism represented in the markers and monuments
- the range of size and sophistication of markers and monuments, from modest to elaborate
- park-like layout including mature trees along the property line
- monuments
- individual grave markers with their surviving inscriptions