West Hill – Corktown

The use of the name West Hill spread rapidly during the 1950’s and 60’s years, even erroneously extending to the east side of the valley. Historically, the community is more accurately part of Highland Creek, although the area does have its own unique history.

After potato crop failures in Ireland in the mid 1840’s, thousands of Irish emigrated from the famine sweeping their homeland and came to settle in Canada. Many came to Scarborough, settling in Wexford and Highland Creek. Having little money and few trade skills, hardworking Irishmen, many from Cork County Ireland, found employment as labourers building the Grand Trunk Railway through southern Scarborough in 1856. A number of Irish immigrants built small, two-room cottages along what is now Morningside Avenue and the area became known as “Corktown.”

The geographic name of West Hill was the preferred name when John Richardson, an Irishman himself, was successful in obtaining a post office, in 1879, for the area on the west side of the valley. Highland Creek was now divided.

In West Hill, near Manse Road, where the local school and a Methodist church were located, there were three general stores. One was operated by the Duncan family, another by Durnford and a third, perhaps the best known, was Eade’s. Nearby once stood the West Hill Hotel, built in 1910 to serve the growing traffic along the Kingston Road highway. West Hill really began developing after 1906 when the radial streetcar line was extended to the area. Radial cars, running on tracks laid along Kingston Road to Victoria Park, could quickly transport residents of West Hill (Stop 45, later Stop 35) to the city limits.

Some friendly rivalry developed over the years between the residents of the West Hill and Highland Creek. When a new school was proposed for School Section # 7, it was decided to erect the building on the east side, not very appealing to those living in West Hill. The school section was divided and after Highland Creek School (S.S. # 7) opened in 1918, plans were immediately begun for a new school in West Hill (now School Section # 16). The school was finally completed by 1920 but was demolished and replaced with a new building in 1995.

As Scarborough celebrated its Bicentennial, both Highland Creek and West Hill were recognized community names, separated by the river valley which gave the combined community its original name more than 200 years ago.

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West Hill – Historical Image Gallery:

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