Hillside is a rural community in the north east section of Scarborough.

School Section # 4 was established in 1847 but there was no school in the community until a small frame one was built in 1853 at Finch Avenue and Meadowvale Road. This early school was replaced in 1872 with a frame building, since moved, bricked over and renovated to serve today as an Outdoor Science School. The community was named after a lovely gothic homestead, known as Hillside, built on the side of the hill of the Rouge Valley by the local miller, William Milne.

The community of Hillside was closely associated with Malvern, Highland Creek and Cedar Grove in Markham.

Hillside had a Methodist Church, built in 1877 at Finch Avenue and Reesor Road but was never formally given a post office designation. Business in the community was centred around the Milne Saw Mill at Sewell’s Road and Old Finch Avenue which was in operation until about 1929 when the last of the standing timber was auctioned off.

Hillside today is still very much a rural community with the Toronto Zoo and the Rouge Valley Park, its main attractions.

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Hillside – Historical Image Gallery: