Article content In the spring of 1890, William Reycraft uncovered some rather odd and very large bones while digging a ditch on his uncleâs farm a short distance from Highgate. This seemingly innocent discovery appeared to be nothing more than a relatively interesting oddity until word spread and others began to arrive. John Jelly and William Hillhouse from Shelburne (north of Orangeville) heard about the discovery and wasted little time in rushing to the Highgate farm. For a mere $25, they purchased the excavation rights to what was to become known as the Highgate Mastodon. We apologize, but this video has failed to load.