Many of Bracondale Hill’s street names pay homage to the family of it’s first resident Robert John Turner. Turner was an esteemed Toronto lawyer who had a keen eye for real estate.. In 1847 Turner built a grand home that he named Bracondale. This house stood where Hillcrest Park is situated today. Many generations of the Turner family lived at Bracondale house. By the late 1800s more families called this area home and a small community emerged that became known as Bracondale Village.  The first Bracondale Village postmaster was Frank Turner, the son of Robert Turner. In 1909 with he City encroaching on its doorstep, Bracondale Village was annexed by the City of Toronto. Following annexation Frank Turner’s heirs subdivided the Bracondale estate and turned it into an exclusive subdivision named ” Bracondale Hill Park”  which is the neighbourhood as we know it today. The Turner family are remembered in many of the street names that are emblazoned on the blue and white street signs in this neighbourhood.

Ed. Note. The Turner family would retain ownership of Bracondale house until 1937, when it was sold to the City and demolished in order to make room for Hillcrest Park. A historical plaque affixed to a stone marker rests in Hillcrest Park, commemorating the founders of this neighbourhood