In Search of The Lost Hill

Although the globe is round in shape, it is also a known fact that it has four corners, starting from the north to the south and continues on from the west to the east. However, this universal law does not seem to apply in Scarborough. Funny as it may sound, the eastern corner is missing, particularly in the Highland Creek area.

When our family moved to Scarborough in 1980, I did not have the slightest idea that living in West Hill could be confusing. I thought that by simply travelling eastbound, I would end up in the neighbourhood of East Hill. I found out soon enough that it wasn't so. There was no East Hill on the map. "So, where the heck is East Hill?" I asked. And to my dismay all of the people I talked to did not know what to say. None of them were sure if it ever existed. It just did not make sense. How can there be a West Hill without East Hill? Did it just sink? Was it swallowed by the creek? The questions nagged me for weeks. And when I couldn't take it anymore, I took on the challenge of finding the missing corner. Like another Indiana Jones, but without the fedora hat and the whip, I embarked on the search for the “Lost Hill.”

Months have passed and I was still getting dead ends. Then, one day when I was about to give up, my inquisitiveness finally paid off. While leisurely reading up on the history of Scarborough, the fascinating tale of the elusive hill unfolded its page and shed light to the mystery.

In the early years of Scarborough Township, back in the 1850’s, a hilly land stretching down from Sheppard Avenue to Lake Ontario and across from Galloway Road to Port Union was home to the hard-working immigrants who built the community known as Highland Creek Village. It was the largest and the centre of commerce in Scarborough. Although it was established as one community, it was geographically sliced in two by a valley. The one on the west side was appropriately named as West Hill, while the hill on the east side by the creek was never referred to as East Hill, but retained the Highland Creek name of the village. The gap caused some form of friction between the local residents living in the opposite hills.

In 1879, the Post Office, which was the centre of rivalry between the two competing communities, was moved to West Hill. Its relocation overshadowed Highland Creek, at least in postal sense. Although it appeared that West Hill may have gained the upper hand, this also marked the beginning of the two communities in putting their differences aside under one name. Today, the land that was known as Highland Creek is now West Hill.

The shifting of names could not change the fact that the hill on Highland Creek was the cradle of its community. It is now one of the historical landmarks of Scarborough. Its history is proudly showcased in a beautiful mural on the eastern wall of Highland Creek Plaza by the historic Wesleyan Cemetery, on the north side of Old Kingston Road and east side of Morrish Road. The large scale painting by the renowned muralist, John Hood, depicts the early settlers of Highland Creek Village, building an extension to the Wesley Methodist Church in the winter of 1867.

This short glimpse of Scarborough’s history revealed the much sought explanation to the “Lost Hill” that was always there. This year of 2009, on June 20^th, Highland Creek Village will once again bring back the time and its old glory. It will celebrate its 24^th Highland Creek Heritage Day. And just like in the previous celebration, it promises another day of great time for everyone, starting from the Annual Festival Parade. The festivity will re-live the good old days. And the folks from the other side of the creek will cross the valley to attend the celebration.

The East Hill that I thought was missing is still standing tall…. and is lost no more. Long Live Highland Creek!