|
HISTORY
The South Hill neighbourhood is defined by the Avenue Road Hill. This historic
land formation was the former shoreline of ancient Lake Iroquois whose chilly
waters receded into present day Lake Ontario some 12,000 years ago at the end
of the last ice age.
The
escarpment that Lake Iroquois left behind was covered by a dense
forest interrupted only by the ponds, creeks, and waterfalls
that graced the Avenue Road Hill up until the 1900's.
South Hill's natural
beauty made it an instant favourite with wealthy Toronto landowners. In the mid
to late 1800's, South Hill was dotted with mansions that were unsurpassed in variety
and scope anywhere else in Toronto. "Oaklands", the gingerbread mansion overlooking
Avenue Road, "Spadina House" at 285 Spadina Road and "Casa Loma", the 98 room
dream home of Sir Henry William Pellatt, still endure from this bygone era.
|