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From 1862 to 1936, four doctors served Aurora and the area through the medical practice and dispensary located at The Manor, now known as Hillary House. Each doctor had medical credentials and was heavily involved in community life. Without a local hospital prior to 1920, these individual doctors were responsible for all medical concerns ranging from administering vaccinations to removing tumours. These doctors saw all ailments imaginable come through the doors of The Manor!

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Portrait of Walter B. Geikie
Late 19th Century

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

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Dr. Walter Geikie (1830-1917)

Dr. Walter Geikie, licensed as a medical practitioner in 1851 by the Medical Board of Canada, had the house built and he and his family were its first residents in 1862. In 1869, he was appointed the Chair of Medicine and Clinical Medicine at Victoria College which caused him to relocate to Toronto.

Dr. Walter Geikie is known for establishing accreditation for the medical field, being one of the founders of Trinity Medical School in Toronto in 1871, and serving as Dean of Trinity Medical School for 30 years.

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Walter B. Geikie's Bible, The Presbyterian Book of Praise
Circa 1897
The University Press, Oxford, England

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

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He was a member of the Upper Canada Bible Society for 65 years. He held many positions with the Society including those of Secretary and Vice President.

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Frederick Strange
Late 19th Century

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

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Dr. Frederick Strange (1844-1897)

Dr. Frederick Strange moved into the building following Dr. Walter Geikie's departure in 1869. He learned of the medical practice vacancy from an ad in the paper and promptly applied to take over its operations. Although only 25 years old at the time, Dr. Strange was fully capable of doing the job having been Member of the Royal College of Surgeons and Member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

He became the Coroner of the County of York. While living in Aurora, Dr. Strange occupied a seat on council. He remained in Aurora until 1876 when he went on to serve as a Member of Parliament for the riding of North York from 1878 to 1882, and to become a member of Faculty at the Toronto Medical College. Dr. Strange continued with his private medical practice and was also the Deputy Surgeon-General of the Royal Regiment of Canada Infantry.

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Keepsake Picture Frame
Early 20th Century

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

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Dr. Robert William Hillary (1832-1894)

Dr. Robert William Hillary was born in Dublin, Ireland on June 18, 1832. Robert William came to Canada West (Ontario) in 1856 as a medical officer on the sailing vessel "Woodstock". He practised in both Laskay and King City before settling in Aurora in 1859 where he met his future wife, Annie Fry (1832-1907). In 1861, Robert William Hillary and Annie Fry married. They moved into the Manor in 1876 when Robert William took over the practice from Dr. Frederick Strange. They had seven children; three daughters and four sons: Eleanor, Robert Michael, Henry Fry, Mary, Norman Torquil, Jane Ann, and Lindsay Hall.

In addition to being a physician, surgeon and obstetrician, Robert William was also a representative on the Village Council. Only five feet tall, Robert William was affectionately known as the "Little Colonel" having been a Surgeon and Major with the 12th York Rangers. He passed away on October 21, 1894. Remembered for his honourable work as both a community doctor and surgeon of the 12th Regiment of the York Rangers, his tombstone in the Aurora Cemetery reads: "This man died leaving his life as an example of noble courage."

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Doctor Hillary's Calling Card
Early 20th Century
Aurora, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

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Dr. Robert Michael Hillary (1863-1936)

Dr. Robert Michael Hillary, son to Robert William Hillary, was born on April 20, 1863 in Aurora and studied medicine at Trinity Medical College under the tutelage of the same Dr. Walter Geikie who had previously lived and had his practice at Hillary House. He interned at the Toronto General Hospital as a clinical clerk to Dr. Frederick Strange from 1890 to 1892. Shortly thereafter, he joined his father's medical practice at The Manor and took ownership of the house in 1894.

Robert Michael married Edith Howard Mussen, daughter of the Rector of Trinity Church in Aurora, on June 1, 1895. They would have nine children together, all born at The Manor. Robert Michael's hobby was collecting and fixing clocks, and as a result many of the timepieces found throughout the home were acquired by him.

Following in his father's footsteps, he too served as Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel of the 12th York Rangers and volunteered for active service which led him to France with the 127th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during WWI. The death of his son Stuart near Vimy Ridge in 1917 devastated him and forced his retirement from medicine. Robert Michael died on June 1, 1936 and to honour the 53 years that he served the Canadian Militia, a military funeral was held at Trinity Church with a firing party from the 12th York Rangers. Approximately 100 veterans attended and marched in the procession at his funeral.

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Robert Michael Hillary
1894
Aurora, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

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Between 1862 and 1936, Hillary House was a hive of activity - with the Doctor writing a common prescription as well as performing a gruelling surgery.

The following photographs of instruments and equipment were used by the doctors at Hillary House and show the scope of their work.

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Cupping Apparatus
Mid to Late 19th Century

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society