Hillside Church Cemetery

 Hillside Church is located on Old Finch Road, near Reesor Rd. The cemetery sits on a small property with the original church still standing, though it is no longer in use. The church has no actual parking, and it is located at the apex of a little hill with a busy road. I parked across the street, where there also isn't any actual parking, but there is a little area by the nature trail that you can fit a car. Use caution, cars come whipping up and down this section at breakneck speed.

 I grew up in this area, and we used to drive past this church almost daily. Nothing much has changed in the last 30 years, but there are more recent burials and the property is being well maintained.
 I also must say that this area is one of my favourite parts of Scarborough. Not only is it right by the Zoo, but it has maintained a rural feel for the last 30+ years. The twisty-turning roads, the woods, the river, crazy bridges, it's like going through a time warp that exists solely between built-up Scarborough and the ever growing city of Markham.

 This plaque was erected by the Scarborough Historical Society and gives some insight to the history of this place.

 Henry Rate, died June 16, 1917. Aged 68 years.
Mary Jane Rate, his wife, died July 28, 1910. Aged 59 years.
Richard Rate, died October 5, 1894. Aged 20 days
Walter Rate, died April 24, 1896. Aged 7 months.

 Mary Ann Rate, born Dec 6, 1876. Died Oct 28, 1946.
George C. Jenkins, born Aug 29, 1867. Died Oct 6, 1953.
Viola Edna Jenkins, born Jan 7, 1906. Died Nov 20, 1921.

 Unknown and broken, stacked under a tree.

 William Joseph Pearse, Nov 5, 1867-Oct 20, 1966.
Cora Margaret Jenkins. Nov 1, 1894-Oct 5, 1965

Clodd, first names and dates unknown.

 Margaret E. Ormewood, Nov 26, 1890-Mar 16, 1990.
Charles Gates, Aug 1, 1896-April 8, 1982.
M. Fern, Infant. 1924.
E. Roy Gates, Sept 25, 1917-May 4, 1960.
Dorothy Platt, July 7, 1920-Feb 13, 2006.

 John B. Ormeod, 1846-1927
Sarah Taylor, 1849-1938
Joseph Ormerod, 1876-1976.
Alice Savoy, 1898-1990.

Joseph, 1923-1924.
Ina, 1917-1918.

 Sidney Beare, died March 24, 1909. Aged 41 years
Susanna Atkinson, died March 6, 1923. Aged 53 years.
Herman George, Jan 26, 1901-Nov 20, 1992. Son of Sidney and Susanna Beare.
Jessie Viola Beare, Nov 16, 1898-Oct 31, 1977. Daughter of Sidney and Susanna Beare.

 John Miller, 1867-1945.
Elizabeth Martin, died 1958.
John Howard Miller, 1907-1923.
Russell Munro Miller, Feb 20, 1911-Sept 18, 1998.
Ruth Gloria Wallace, Aug 25, 1924-May 7, 2005.

 Corporal Clarence W. Wallace, died Dec 5, 1995. Aged 81 years.
Jean Eva Wallace, March 12, 1924-January 13, 2005.

 Charles Booth, Dec 21, 1855-Feb 26, 1932.
Fannie Clodd, his wife, Dec 28, 1862-May 4, 1951.
Annie E., daughter, Oct 30, 1886-March 30, 1892.
Alice R. Reed, Dec 25, 1899-Dec 29, 1934.
Levi M. Booth, Aug 9, 1898-June 23, 1994.

 Unknown.

 Leonard Thomas, died Jan 11, 1889.

 Daisy C.R. Skell, wife of William Jenkins,1898-1989.
Alfred E, Infant, 1923
Lorien K, Infant, 1942

 Mary V.M. Paskell, Aug 13, 1901-May 1,1902.

 Joslin Doyle, 1895-1952.
Kate Helena 1869-1951.

 John Clarke, 1838-1905.
Mary J. Lennox, his wife, 1840-1906.
Robert Clarke, 1839-1921.
Maria Jane Clarke, wife of James Charters, 1832-1917.

 Amelia Stainton, the wife of James Pearse, died May 2, 1907. Aged 57 years.
James Pearse, died Dec 22, 1915, aged 74 years.

 Peter Gates, 1892-1908.

 Mary
Charles

 Unknown.

 Martha Keel, the wife of John Pearse, died Sept 8, 1895. Aged 71 years.
John Pearse, 1854-1932.
John Pearse, 1832-1881.

 Edwin Daniel Pitcher, May 22, 1947-July 1, 1994.

 Robert A. Collins, Feb 17, 1935-Nov 4, 2007.

 Bertha Ann Ormerod, died May 14, 1915. Aged 45 years.
Peter Gates, her husband, died July 1, 1923. Aged 60 years.

 Peter Reesor,1841-1937.
Susan Whaley, 1847-1928.

E. Naomi Ramer, the wife of Donald Reesor, died Dec 3, 1911. Aged 43 years.
Donald Reesor, died Jan 29, 1938. Aged 70 years.
Ina R. Reesor, Jan 12, 1881-Jan 25, 1893.
P. Archie Reesor, died July 7, 1878. Aged 9 months.

 Janet Tindell, the wife of Sam F. Reesor, died May 21, 1885. Aged 25 years.

 Samuel, son of Samuel and Jannet Pearse, died Feb 7, 1884. Aged 1 year.

 George Pearse, died 1885. Aged 33 years.
Elizabeth Keels, wife of George Pearse.
Unknown Pearse, died Nov 25, 1932.
Unknown Ormerod, died Jan 18, 1947.

 Samuel F. Pearse, May 3, 1857- Nov 25, 1932.

This cemetery has had, for years now, rumours of being haunted. Though this blog is not about ghosts, hauntings, or haunted graveyards I have decided to include some of the stories about paranormal experiences here because I think that it should be included in the history of the cemetery. Whether or not you believe in ghosts.  Many stories include seeing an old caretaker who chases people from the property or seeing him in the windows, which are all boarded up. To me, that sounds like it's made up but who knows? It could be one of the local residents who has gotten sick of kids hanging around the cemetery. There is one home located almost across from it, and it is still occupied. There are also reports of hearing moaning and screaming coming from the cemetery and the surrounding woods, but I would like to point out that the cemetery pretty much backs onto the zoo, which could account for the noises. A yak in heat probably sounds terrifying when you are chilling in a cemetery in the middle of the night!

There are many stories that also simply involve the area, such as the railway tracks on Sewells, right before the auto wreckers, and the Birthday Girl Bridge/Happy Birthday Sue Bridge. Again, whether or not you believe in these things it still adds a bit of history and fun to the area.
I will say that the day I was here the cemetery felt very peaceful and serene. In fact, the cemetery I had visited earlier in the day (Green River Baptsit Church Cemetery)had given me a lot more of the heebie-jeebies than this place did. I will note that as I walked into the cemetery I saw a young coyote on the opposite side of the road, which is no big deal as they live in the area. Just something to keep in mind if you are planning to bring young children or small dogs with you.