We're Open!
The historic Tollkeeper's Cottage,
believed
to be Canada's only surviving tollgate from the 1800s (or
earlier), certainly the only one available to the public, is open for
visitors on Saturdays from 11am - 4pm in the winter, and 10am --5 pm in
the summer. We ask for a minimum contribution of $2 per person (except
for very young children) to help offset our on-going operating costs.
Briefly, the Cottage was
"rediscovered" 20 years ago (1993) and a few years later research began
in earnest re its origins and history. It's dated at 1835 (the interior
has been restored to the 1860's) and was operating as a tollgate and
home for
the tollkeepers' families
at least from 1850.
It's of a very rare vertical plank construction - a style used for a
short period in the early 1800's. Its history as tollgate #3 on
Davenport Road - whose history dates back to the end of Ice Ages when
the passageway was used as a footpath by the First Nations people - is
fascinating.
More complete descriptions of the
Cottage's
background
,
discovery
and
restoration
are available elsewhere on this site. For images, please select "
Slideshows
" from the main menu.
The Cottage
is also available for rent (in order to support our operating costs):
- a limit 35 persons inside - no capacity limit
outside;
- one single unisex fully accessible washroom;
- rental is $25 per hour - extra charges apply for
use of certain equipment;
- limited parking is available along Davenport Road.
There are also large parking lots one block south of Davenport and east
of Bathurst Street on Bridgeman Avenue.
Arrangement for groups, such as school tours, seniors' groups and other groups must be made in advance by emailing us at tollkeeperscottage@gmail.com. Thanks to Zeitguys Inc., we now have brochures for both school tours ( English and French ) and Seniors' groups .
TTC access from the subway:
.......... Take the #7 Bathurst bus from the Bathurst subway station,
north to Davenport Rd.
(every 7-12 minutes).
.......... Take the #127 Davenport bus from the Spadina subway station,
or the Dupont subway station, west to Bathurst St.
(every 17-23 minutes).
From time to time special programs will be announced.
