HILLS, Albert Harvey (1816-1878), an early and important Hamilton architect, was the son of a Loyalist family that fled from New England during the War of 1812 and settled at Trois Rivieres, Que. Hills was born there on 5 August 1816 and brought to Hamilton, Ont. the following year by his family. In the late 1830's he opened a builder's office with his brother Horace H. Hills, and carried on the trade for several years until 1846 when he began to practice as an architect under his own name, and he stated that he was '...prepared to superintend all kinds of Grecian and Italian Villas, Elizabethan and Swiss cottages, public buildings, and trusts his fifteen years experience will give satisfaction' (Hamilton Gazette, 25 March 1847, 1, advert. first published 21 Sept. 1846).
During his early career he made frequent expeditions to the Canadian northwest but a serious accident during one trip necessitated the amputation of a leg, an event that may be related to the sudden bankruptcy of the Hills company of builders and carpenters in 1848 (British Colonist [Toronto], 28 April 1848, 3). He withdrew from active construction and joined the staff of the Great Western Railway in 1853-55, but returned to the profession in 1856 and the following year formed a partnership with the German-born Frederick Kortum in October 1857 (Globe [Toronto], 1 Oct. 1857, 3). Their collaboration was short-lived however, and dissolved in early 1859 (Hamilton Times, 10 Feb. 1859, 2). Shortly after this, Hills received one of the most important commissions of his career, that for the Hamilton Crystal Palace, an immense glass shed completed the following year and opened by the Prince of Wales in September, 1860.
Hills was an adept designer who possessed a sophisticated knowledge of the repetoire of styles which were emerging during the rapid growth of the southern Ontario region in the mid-nineteenth century. It may be claimed that he was the first to introduce the 'full ornamental Gothic' to commercial architecture in Hamilton with his unique and imposing designs for Carpenter's new store in 1847. From 1868 he was assisted by his son Lucien Hills who took over the practise in 1876. Hills died in Hamilton on 25 November 1878 and was buried at Hamilton Cemetery (obituary in Spectator [Hamilton], Evening Edition, 26 Nov. 1878, 4; biog. in Dictionary of Hamilton Biography, i, 1981, 103; inf. Stephen Otto, Kent Rawson, Toronto)
A.H. HILLS (works in Hamilton unless noted)
JOHN STREET NORTH, at Market Street, commercial block for Mr. Carpenter, 1847 (Hamilton Gazette, 9 Aug. 1847, 3, descrip.)
PORT MAITLAND, ONT., residence for W.J. Hickes, 1852 (Hamilton Gazette, 4 March 1852, 3, advert.)
MacNAB STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MacNab Street South at Hunter Street West, 1856 (Spectator [Hamilton], 12 Feb. 1856, 2, t.c.)
KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, James Street North at Cannon Street, manse and addition to the church, 1856 (Spectator [Hamilton], 27 Feb. 1856, 3, t.c.)
ROYAL HOTEL, James Street North at Merrick Street, 1856-57; burned 1935 (Spectator [Hamilton], 14 Feb. 1856, 3, t.c.; Globe [Toronto], 9 Oct. 1857, 2, descrip.)
BURLINGTON HEIGHTS, overlooking the Desjardins Canal, a monument for the victims of the Great Western Railway disaster, 1857 (Semi-Weekly Spectator [Hamilton], 28 March 1857, 1; and 30 March 1857, 2, and 18 April 1857, 2, descrip.). An early daguerreotype photograph of the drawing for this monument by Hills was taken by David Preston, Photographer in 1857, but this has yet to be located in public collections in Canada.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Jackson Street West at MacNab Street South, begun by A.H. Hills in 1857; completed by Hills & Kortum in 1858 (Semi-Weekly Spectator [Hamilton], 29 April 1857, 2; and 13 March 1858, 4, descrip.; and 29 April 1858, 2; Globe [Toronto], 3 April 1858, 2, descrip.; watercolour perspective drawing by Hills in the possession of the Church as of 2011; inf. Paul Grimwood, Hamilton)
HILLS & KORTUM (works in Hamilton)
SECOND METHODIST CHURCH, John Street North at Rebecca Street, enlargement, 1858 (Spectator [Hamilton], 23 March 1858, 2, t.c.)
JOHN STREET NORTH, at King William Street, two stores for Philip Martin, 1858 (Spectator [Hamilton], 13 May 1858, 3, t.c.)
CENTRAL SCHOOL, Hunter Street West at Park Street South, additions and alterations, 1858 (Spectator [Hamilton], 19 June 1858, 3, t.c.)
A.H. HILLS (Ecclesiastical works in Hamilton and elsewhere)
WEST FLAMBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, Christ Church [Anglican], Highway No. 8 at Bullock's Corners, near Dundas, Ont., 1864; tower added in 1879; still standing in 2022 (Canadian Churchman [Kingston], 17 Aug. 1864, 2, descrip.; Waterdown-East Flamborough Heritage Society, From West Flamborough's Storied Past, 2003, 50-51, illus. & descrip., but lacking attribution)
PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH, Hughson Street North at Gore Street, 1864-67 (Spectator [Hamilton], 23 Aug. 1864, 2, t.c.; and 1 Feb. 1867, 2, descrip.; Hamilton Evening Times, 27 Nov. 1866, 3, descrip.; Globe [Toronto], 28 Nov. 1866, 2, descrip.)
BEVERLY TOWNSHIP, West Flamborough Presbyterian Church at Orkney, Highway No. 8 at Middletown Road, 1865-67; still standing in 2022 (Presbyterianism in West Flamboro Church 1833-1908, 48-9, illus.; Waterdown-East Flamborough Heritage Society, From West Flamborough's Storied Past, 2003, 22-23, illus. & descrip.)
CENTENARY METHODIST CHURCH, Main Street West near James Street, 1866-68 (Spectator [Hamilton], 3 April 1866, 2, t.c.; and 24 Oct. 1868, 2, descrip.; Hamilton Evening Times, 22 Feb. 1868, 3, descrip.)
METHODIST CHURCH, Pearl Street North at Napier Street, 1867 (Hamilton Evening Times, 22 Aug. 1867, 3)
ST. THOMAS ANGLICAN CHURCH, Main Street East at West Avenue, 1869-70; Parish Hall, 1874 (Spectator [Hamilton], 2 July 1869, 2, descrip.; dwgs. for school house at Ontario Archives, D. Coll., 966-67)
ST. THOMAS ANGLICAN CHURCH, Parsonage for the church, West Avenue South near Main Street East, 1869-70; demol. 2018 (Golder Associates, Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment for 18 Wsst Avenue South, 2016, pp. 54-55, 62, illus. & descrip.; inf. Robert Hamilton, Hamilton, Ont.)
CHRIST CHURCH ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL, James Street North near Robert Street, additions, 1872 (Spectator [Hamilton], 4 April 1872, 2, t.c.)
LORETTO CONVENT, King Street West at Ray Street, major addition, 1873 (Spectator [Hamilton], 27 Nov. 1873, 3, descrip.)
A.H. HILLS (Institutional works in Hamilton unless noted)
CRYSTAL PALACE, at the Hamilton Exhibition Grounds, 1859-60; demol. 1891 (Weekly Spectator [Hamilton], 19 April 1860, 2, descrip.; and 31 May 1860, 6; and Weekly Spectator [Hamilton], 12 July 1860, 6, illus. & detailed architectural descrip.; Globe [Toronto], 18 April 1860, 2, descrip.; and 26 May 1860, 2, descrip.; and 20 Sept. 1860, 2, descrip.; Daily British Whig [Kingston], 22 Sept. 1860, 2, descrip.)
PROVINCIAL EXHIBITION GROUNDS, major additions to the Crystal Palace, with new cattle sheds, new sheep sheds, new pig sheds, new poultry sheds, and a Machinery Exhibit Hall, 1864; all demol. (Globe [Toronto], 15 Sept. 1864, 1, descrip.)
WENTWORTH COUNTY GAOL, Court House Square, addition, 1866 (Spectator [Hamilton], 17 July 1866, 3, t.c.)
PUBLIC MARKET, John Street North at Market Street, 1866; additions 1869 (Spectator [Hamilton], 13 Sept. 1866, 2, t.c.; 21 Sept. 1869, 2, t.c.)
ST. PATRICK'S WARD SCHOOL, Hunter Street East near Liberty Street, addition and improvements, 1868 (Spectator [Hamilton], 5 June 1868, 2, t.c.)
ST. MARY'S WARD SCHOOL, 1868 (Spectator [Hamilton], 24 Sept. 1868, 3, t.c.)
DUNDURN CASTLE, York Street, conversion of the mansion of Sir Allan MacNab into a Deaf & Dumb Asylum for the Province of Ontario, 1869; castle still standing in 2022 (Spectator [Hamilton], 5 Oct. 1869, 2, t.c.; Daily Telegraph [Toronto], 8 Oct. 1869, 1, descrip.)
ST. LAWRENCE WARD SCHOOL, Wellington Street North near Cannon Street, 1869 (Spectator [Hamilton], 12 May 1869, 2, t.c.; and 20 Nov. 1869, 2, descrip.)
PRIMARY SCHOOL, Main Street West at Queen Street, 1870 (Spectator [Hamilton], 20 May 1870, 2, t.c.)
ANCASTER, ONT., Township Hall, Wilson Street East near Church Street, 1871 (Spectator [Hamilton], 6 Feb. 1871, 2, t.c.; M. MacRae & A. Adamson, 1983, Cornerstones of Order, 1983, 210, illus.)
MARY STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL, Mary Street at Wilson Street, extension and addition of top storey, 1872 (Spectator [Hamilton], 11 July 1872, 2, t.c.)
BOY'S HOME, on the Crawford farm east of the Delta, 1873 (Spectator [Hamilton], 20 Jan. 1873, 3, descrip.)
CHILDREN'S HOME, addition and outbuildings, 1873 (Spectator [Hamilton], 26 March 1873, 2, t.c.)
FIRE HALL, Ward Three, 1874 (Spectator [Hamilton], 16 Oct. 1874, 2, t.c.)
FIRE HALL, Ward Four, '.....adjoining the Military Prison on the Crystal Palace Grounds', 1875 (Spectator [Hamilton], 10 May 1875, 2, t.c.)
WENTWORTH COUNTY REGISTRY OFFICE, John Street South at Jackson Street East, 1875 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 4 Aug. 1875, 2, t.c.)
CENTRAL FIRE STATION, Hughson Street North near King William Street, 1875; addition, 1876 (Spectator [Hamilton], 18 Oct. 1875, 2, t.c.; and 19 Jan. 1876, 3, detailed descrip.; and 23 June 1876, 2, t.c.)
A.H. HILLS (Commercial and Industrial works in Hamilton unless noted)
KING STREET WEST, at MacNab Street, store for G.R. Terwilliger, 1867 (Spectator [Hamilton], 4 Oct. 1867, 2, descrip.)
KING STREET EAST, 'The Pharmacy', a store for Thomas Lawrence & Co., 1868 (Hamilton Evening Times, 3 March 1868, 3, descrip.)
WANZER SEWING MACHINE CO., King Street East at Catharine Street, major addition, 1869 (Spectator [Hamilton], 26 May 1869, 2, t.c.)
MERRICK STREET, at MacNab Street North, commercial block for Moore & Davis, 1870 (Spectator [Hamilton], 31 Jan. 1870, 2, t.c.)
JAMES TURNER & CO., Hughson Street South near King Street East, warehouse, 1870 (Spectator [Hamilton], 20 April 1870, 2, t.c.)
WOOD & LEGGATT CO., King William Street near Hughson Street North, warehouse, 1869; addition, 1871 (Spectator [Hamilton], 28 June 1869, 2, t.c.; and 23 May 1871, 2, t.c.)
BANK OF MONTREAL, King Street West near James Street, additions and alterations, 1870 (Spectator [Hamilton], 2 July 1870, 2, t.c.)
TUCKETT & BILLINGS TOBACCO CO., King Street West near Bay Street, major addition, 1870-71; addition, 1876 (Spectator [Hamilton], 4 July 1870, 2, t.c.; and 11 July 1871, 2, descrip.; and 29 Jan. 1876, 2, t.c.)
SANFORD, McINNES & CO, King Street East at John Street, additions and alterations to store, 1870; burned August 1879 (Spectator [Hamilton], 13 Oct. 1870, 2, t.c.)
JOHN STREET SOUTH, at Jackson Street East, block of four stores and dwellings for S. Davis, 1871 (Spectator [Hamilton], 7 Feb. 1871, 2, t.c.; and 13 Feb. 1871, 3)
HESPELER, ONT., Hespeler Sewing Machine Co., factory, 1871 (Spectator [Hamilton], 15 July 1871, 2, t.c.)
RUTHERFORD & CO., Hughson Street North at Guise Street, glass works, 1871 (Spectator [Hamilton], 13 Feb. 1871, 3)
J.C. FIELDS CO., King Street West near MacNab Street, a 4 storey retail store, 1871-72; demol. (Spectator [Hamilton], 13 Feb. 1871, 3; and 11 Jan. 1872, 3, descrip.)
CORNWALL, ONT., cotton mill for the Cornwall Cotton Manufacturing Co., 1872 (Globe [Toronto], 2 April 1872, 4, t.c.; Mail [Toronto], 21 May 1872, 3, t.c.)
GURNEY & WARE CO., John Street North at Colbourne Street, weigh scale factory, 1872 (Spectator [Hamilton], 6 Dec. 1872, 3, descrip.)
LISTER BLOCK, James Street North at Rebecca Street, major addition of six stores, 1872-73 (Spectator [Hamilton], 23 May 1872, 2, t.c.; and 20 Jan. 1873, 3, descrip.)
KING STREET WEST, opposite Charles Street, hotel for John Mitchell, 1873 (Spectator [Hamilton], 21 March 1873, 3, descrip.)
JAMES STREET NORTH, factory for John P. Pronguey, 1873-74 (Spectator [Hamilton], 5 May 1873, 2, t.c.; and 30 Sept. 1874, 2, t.c.)
MANSION HOUSE HOTEL, King Street West at Park Street, for William Fitzgerald, 1873 (Spectator [Hamilton], 10 July 1873, 3)
MOUNTAIN VIEW HOTEL, Upper James Street, on Hamilton Mountain, major addition, 1873, demol. (Spectator [Hamilton], 27 Nov. 1873, 3, descrip.)
BURLINGTON BEACH, ONT., Ocean House Hotel, designed 1868; built 1875; burned 1895 (Globe [Toronto], 14 Nov. 1868, 4; and 19 Nov. 1868, 4, descrip.; Spectator [Hamilton], 5 Jan. 1875, 2, t.c.; inf. Robert Hamilton, Hamilton, Ont.)
A.H. HILLS (Residential works in Hamilton unless noted)
HANNAH STREET EAST, near James Street south, alterations and repairs to residence with new carriage house and stables for William E. Sanford, 1868 (Spectator [Hamilton], 18 June 1868, 2, t.c.)
JAMES STREET SOUTH, residence for John McPherson (Spectator [Hamilton], 13 Feb. 1871, 3)
WEST MARKET STREET, near Queen Street, block for 5 houses for James Horsburgh, 1871 (Spectator [Hamilton], 13 Feb. 1871, 3)
ANCASTER, ONT., residence for Mrs. William Kern, 1876 (Spectator [Hamilton], 7 April 1876, 2, t.c.)
COMPETITIONS
HAMILTON, ONT., City Hall & Market Building, 1857. Hills received Second Premium for his design submitted under the pseudonym 'Qui uti seit si bona' (Spectator [Hamilton], 2 April 1857, 2). The First Prize was awarded to Frederick Kortum, with whom Hills was later appointed joint architect for the project (Spectator [Hamilton], 29 Sept. 1857, 2; and 13 Oct. 1857, 2, descrip.)
STRATFORD, ONT., High School, 1877. A.H. Hills (or more likely his son, Lucien) was one of 34 entrants who submitted a design for this project, but his scheme was not premiated (Stratford Beacon, 5 Oct. 1877, 2). The winning design was prepared by McCaw & Lennox of Toronto