a charming, registered heritage house open to the public at the corner of Bathurst Street and Davenport Road in Toronto. We are one of the few remaining examples of a Tollhouse on nineteenth century roads. See the unique vertical plank construction, and hear about the lifestyle of a working class family.
Open Saturday 12-5pm First Sun of each month 1-4pm
Come to visit the oldest tollhouse surviving anywhere in Canada, when roads were muddy and farmers paid to go downtown amid great hardship to market. See how one tollkeeper’s family lived, up to nine people, crowded, without electricity or running water. Examine their tools, their cookware, their clothing and bedding as our all-volunteer staff take you on a tour back in time to mid-nineteenth century Toronto. View the huge, rough planks that came from a single giant pine tree, a testament to the ancient forests of that time. Look out from here, as they would have, at one of the oldest roads in Ontario, a vestige of the last ice age.
Wishing all our Tollkeeper Friends a 2026 filled with good health, new adventures and great joy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COOKIE DAY Thank you to our bakers and buyers for a successful Cookie Day this year. We made almost $900. for the care and maintenance of the Tollkeeper's Cottage. And also a big thank you to those who decided to support us by taking out or renewing their membership. This Spring, members will be able to attend our AGM and vote on the issues that have arisen this year. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Membership is valid from January to December 2026 and may be purchased at any time! $20. individual, $35. family. Receipts for tax deductions will be sent by email in February. THANK YOU FOR DECIDING TO CONNECT WITH, PRESERVE AND CELEBRATE OUR UNIQUE HERITAGE COTTAGE! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PHOTO FIESTA Congratulations to David Raymont for his winning photo "Tollkeeper Window"(bottom left). David has received his prize, a gift certificate kindly donated by our local Fiesta Farms Grocery Store. THANK YOU TO FIESTA FARMS FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COTTAGE CLOSUREAs in other years, our hard working volunteers take a break for the holiday season. We closed at the end of Cookie Day, December 13 and we'll remain closed during January, as the Tollkeeper's Cottage is cold and dark during that month. We will re-open on Sunday February 1, from 1-4 pm. We'll see you next year! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | ||||||
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About the Museum
Vertical plank construction Our tollhouse is the oldest tollkeeper’s house surviving anywhere in Canada open for viewing by the public and among the oldest still existing. It is constructed in very rare vertical plank construction (no framing), held…
Contact Us
Our Location Transit instructions Email no phone The tollkeeper’s cottage is located in The Tollkeeper’s Park (formerly Davenport Square Park) northwest corner of Davenport Road and Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, Canada. Its street address is 750 Davenport Rd….
Children, school groups
Demonstrating Ring toss for a school class Children spinning tops Junior docents
Volunteers
For those who would like to volunteer as docents at the Tollkeeper’s Cottage 1. What the Museum offers you: § The opportunity to learn about the history of our roads, and of one of the oldest tollgate…
Bulletins
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Community History Project
The COMMUNITY HISTORY PROJECT (CHP) was founded and led by citizen Jane Beecroft as a project for Toronto’s Sesquicentennial or 150th year since its founding. Its purpose was to collect writings and documents primarily from the area in…
Plan your visit
Thanks to Zeitguys Inc, we have brochures for some of our Tours below.. Brochure for Seniors An informative brochure specifically tailored for seniors planning to visit the Tollkeeper’s Cottage. Includes useful tips, historical context, and accessibility information. Download…