Description: 

271 Dundas Street East is a 2.5 storey Second Empire style house located on the south side of Dundas Street East between Pembroke Street and Sherbourne Street in the Garden District of Toronto. 271 Dundas Street East was constructed in 1870/1871.

271 Dundas Street East was formerly known as 31 Wilton Crescent. 271 Dundas Street East was one of the very first houses built on the south side of Wilton Crescent. Wilton Crescent was the former name of the curved stretch of Dundas Street East between George Street and Sherbourne Street.  The present-day address - 271 Dundas Street East - has been used since 1918.

Due to a map error, 271 Dundas Street East does not appear in the 1880 Fire Insurance Plans. 271 Dundas Street East subsequently appears in the 1884 and later editions of the Fire Insurance Plans. 

In the early 20th century, the neighbouring Edwardian home at 273 Dundas Street East was constructed. 273 Dundas Street East appears to have been built up against the east wall of 271 Dundas Street East. The site of 273 Dundas Street East was formerly private grounds associated with 271 Dundas Street East. 

First Occupants - Francis (Frank) Hillock and Family: 

271 Dundas Street East was first home to Francis (Frank) Hillock (1840-1918) and family. The Hillock family resided at 271 Dundas Street East from its construction in 1870/1871 until 1960.

Francis (Frank) Hillock was born in Toronto in 1840 to an Irish-Canadian family. He was a builder and lumber merchant by trade. The following biography of Francis (Frank) Hillock was published in Thomas Edward Champion's The Methodist Churches of Toronto (1899): 

"Mr. Hillock was born in the City of Toronto, Canada, in 1840. He received his education in Toronto, and after leaving school engaged with McBean & Withrow, lumber dealers, where he was engaged for 14 years, and latterly with Mr. John Kent. The firm prospered and was one of the best known in Toronto. On the death of Mr. Kent (at which time the firm had been carrying on business for nineteen years) Mr. Hillock continued the business alone, and is still engaged in it.

In his early days, Mr. Hillock attended the Presbyterian Church, but in 1870 he became a member of Berkeley Street Methodist Church. On 9 November 1870, Mr. Hillock was married to Miss Margaret Wilkinson, who was a member of Berkeley Street Church choir. 

Mr. Hillock is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Masonic Lodges." (page 289). 

Between 1870/1871 and 1890, Hillock had a partnership with John Kent known as Hillock & Kent. The following sketch of Hillock & Kent is provided in George Maclean Rose's A Cyclopædia of Canadian Biography: Volume 1 (1886): 

"These enterprising gentlemen commenced operations on Bay Street [in 1870], as lumber dealers, and remained there until 1873, when they removed, owing to the increase of their business, to the corner of Albert and Chestnut streets, where they now have one of the largest lumber yards in the City of Toronto, and where they do one of the most extensive trades pertaining to their line in the Dominion." (page 180). 

Following the death of John Kent in 1890, Hillock & Kent became known as Frank Hillock & Sons. Frank Hillock & Sons was in business for 86 years (111 years including its tenure as Hillock & Kent). 

The former location of Hillock & Kent's / John Hillock & Son's lumber yard (103 Albert Street) is now the present-day site of Toronto City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. The lumber yard was expropriated to build new City Hall.

As noted above, in November 1870, Francis (Frank) Hillock married Margaret Jane Wilkinson (1847-1933). Francis (Frank) and Margaret had 10 children - 4 daughters and 6 sons - between 1871 and 1889. As noted above, Margaret Jane Wilkinson was a member of the Berkeley Street Methodist Church's choir. Frank Hillock died in 1918. Margaret Hillock died at 271 Dundas Street East on Sunday, 13 August 1933 at age 87 and was noted to have lived at 271 Dundas Street East for 63 years. Following the death of Margaret Hillock, the property was inherited by two of her sons: George Hillock and Frank Hillock. Frank Hillock Jr. continued to live at 271 Dundas Street East until 1960.

John Francis Hillock (1834-1904) - Frank Hillock's older brother who was also a builder by trade - lived a few doors west at the southwest corner of Pembroke Street and Wilton Crescent (now Dundas Street East) - during the 1870s and 1880s. John Jacob Withrow - who was John Francis Hillock's business partner at Hillock & Withrow - lived between the two Hillock brothers at the southeast corner of Pembroke Street and Wilton Crescent (now Dundas Street East). John Jacob Withrow (1833-1900) is also notable for being involved in philanthropy and politics and was the founder of the modern Canadian National Exhibition. 

Prior to living at 271 Dundas Street East (then 31 Wilton Crescent), Frank Hillock lived at 229 Jarvis Street. 

Later Occupants and Uses:

1960s Onward:

By 1961, 271 Dundas Street East had been converted into a rooming house.

Present Day:

271 Dundas Street East is presently subdivided into rental apartments. 

(Research by Adam Wynne)