Hillary House and Koffler Museum of Medicine facts for kids
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| Established | 1862 |
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| Location | 15372 Yonge Street, Aurora, ON. L4G 1N8 |
| Public transit access | GO Transit |
| Designated: | 1973 |
Hillary House, the Koffler Museum of Medicine, is a special old house in Aurora, Ontario. It was built in 1862 in the Gothic Revival style. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about history.
This house is recognized as one of the best examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Canada. It holds a large collection of items. These include old medical tools, books, and household items. They show what life was like from the early 1800s to the late 1900s. Since 1981, the Aurora Historical Society has owned Hillary House. They keep it open for everyone to visit.
A Home for Doctors: Hillary House History
Hillary House was once home to four different doctors and their families. These doctors ran their medical practices right from the house. They had a special room for preparing medicines and another for seeing patients.
Doctors also traveled a lot to visit people in their homes. They used a horse and buggy to reach patients in Aurora and nearby areas. Each doctor became a very important part of the community. The Hillary family lived in the house for over 100 years!
Here are the doctors who lived there:
- 1862 – 1869: Dr. Water Bayne Geikie built Hillary House. He was born in Scotland in 1830. He lived there with his wife, Miriam Woodhouse, and their four children.
- 1869 – 1876: Dr. Frederick William Strange moved in. He was a surgeon from England. He lived with his wife, Esther Rose, and their daughter.
- 1876 – 1894: Dr. Robert William Hillary bought the house. He was born in Ireland. He lived there with his wife, Annie Fry, and their seven children.
- 1894: Robert Michael Hillary, Dr. Robert William's son, took over the property. He married Edith Mussen in 1895. They lived in the house with their nine children. Nora Hillary, one of their daughters, lived in the home until 1993.
Gothic Revival: The House's Unique Style
In the 1700s, people in Britain became very interested in old Medieval styles. This led to a new trend called Gothic Revival. This style soon came to Canada in the early 1800s.
As it became popular, builders started to try new ideas with the style. Gothic Revival spread across Canada. You could see it on many buildings, from churches to homes like Hillary House. It even became a part of Canadian identity.
Hillary House, finished in 1862, shows many features of the Gothic Revival style. These include:
- Tall and Pointy Shapes: The house looks very tall and has a strong vertical design.
- Fancy Decorations: You can see detailed carvings on the roof edges and gables.
- Classic Gothic Shapes: It has special three-leaf clover shapes, called trefoils.
- Pointed Windows: The windows and door frames are tall and narrow, like a lancet.
You can find these features both outside and inside the house. They are on staircases, wall panels, and more. Because of its amazing architecture, Hillary House was named a National Historic Site in 1971.
See also
