1

Originally when this room was a kitchen, food would be prepared here and then eaten in the drawing room. In 1888, it became a dining room when a kitchen was built in what is now an Aurora Historical Society office space.

2

Dining Room at The Manor
Circa 1905
Hillary House, Yonge Street, Aurora, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

3

History of Food Preparation

During the late 1800s, people relied on foods that were in season and available locally. Food was often pickled in jars to be used at a later date. People did not buy their food in supermarkets like we have today; instead small grocers shops would sell dried goods such as tea, sugar and rice. The meals were all prepared through cutting, chopping, beating and grating, and were cooked over an open fire.

During the 1920s, there was a new approach to food preparation and cooking. Processed foods were making their way into people's homes. This meant that there would be less time spent on preparing meals.
Widespread use of the refrigerator occurred in the late 1920s which replaced the use of iceboxes to keep food cool and from going bad.

4

Groceries Receipt
30 March 1935
Aurora, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

5

Westinghouse Turnover Toaster
Circa 1915-1917
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

6

The Hillary family kept a cow in their barn which provided them with milk and enabled them to make butter. They also kept chickens and would use the eggs in meals and recipes.

7

Tending to the calf
Circa 1915
Hillary House, Yonge Street, Aurora, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

8

Red Cross Cookbook
1915
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

9

Good Meals and How to Prepare Them: A Guide to Meal-Planning, Cooking and Serving
1929
New York, United States of America

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

10

Recipe Box
1950-1960
Ohio, United States of America

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

11

The Aurora Historical Society has an extensive collection of dishes, which were bought and used by generations of the Hillary family.

The following are examples of dishes that would have been used everyday by the family.

12

Titian Ware Dish Set
Early 20th Century
England

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

13

Egg Coddler
1950-1960
England

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society

14

Small Soup Tureen
Circa 1840-1902

Credits:
Aurora Historical Society