Plan your visit j

At any time we are open, our trained docents are happy to explain the Cottage, its original use in tollkeeping, and the way our selected 19^th century working class family, the Bullmins, survived in what was then the edge of the city. You should allow about one hour for the tour and there is no formal charge, although we are happy to accept any donations. All of the money given for tours goes directly to the care and maintenance of the Tollkeeper’s Cottage.

the Tollkeeper’s Cottage Museum
750 Davenport Road at Bathurst Street
The Community History Project will accommodate school groups on any weekday.

Mrs. Tollkeeper demonstrates a popular 19th century game for a visiting class.

Children will enjoy a guided tour of the Museum with a focus on children’s lives in the 1800’s. They will be introduced to a variety of chores and popular 19th c games. Choose to dye with natural plant materials or “churn” butter to eat on bread. Plan to spend approximately 2 hours. For a full day itinerary combine a visit to the Tollkeeper’s Cottage with a visit to the City of Toronto Archives nearby.

To book a date contact Marilyn at tollkeeperscottage@gmail.com
Cost $6 per child
.Here are some brochures to help plan your class or group visit

We’re busy the whole year long preparing for tours by locals as well as visitors from other parts of Canada and the world. Here is a brief review of what you might expect to see if you visit:

JANUARY- As nature is resting, so too, is our little Cottage, which is often dark and cold during this month. Our volunteers may be cleaning the interior and developing new ideas and programs for the rest of the year.

FEBRUARY is our month for recognizing that our clothing can be made to last when mended. We offer mending services to your favourite items, along with lessons for you to develop these skills yourself! We also teach knitting and crochet.

LATE WINTER AND SPRING

We host speakers and researchers who are committed to local history, conservation and sustainable practices.

Two of our speakers are listed below as an example of the lively and interesting topics we cover. For the speaker series, we request a $10. entrance fee.

One of our speakers, at right, was Maureen Jennings, whose authorship of the Murdoch Mysteries has been so successfully translated into an international television success.

NANCY MONTGOMERY AND THE RICHMOND HILL MURDERS

THURSDAY MARCH 19, 7:00-8:30

David Raymont has researched the Richmond Hill murders made famous by Margaret Atwood in her novel, Alias Grace. He has discovered that Nancy Montgomery’s life was far more complex and engaging than that described in the novel.

What can Nancy Montgomery’s life tell us about life in 1840’s Ontario and why did she died?

APRIL We may conduct an egg dyeing workshop or Passover craft. Fun for adults as well as children!

MAY is the month of our Victoria Day Tea, which allows our guests to imitate the life that Queen Victoria ushered in, of fine conversation and good manners. At our Tea you may, for a few moments, live the life of wealthy Victorians, sitting at lace covered tables, while being served tea in fine China tea cups with scones and clotted cream.

MAY is also the month for tidying up our beautiful pollinator garden. We have a loyal group of active gardeners who keep it attractive for visitors, as well as bees and butterflies!

JUNE During this month, as a way to continue our commitment to reuse, we may host a book sale or a sale of previously loved treasures and we usually have the good weather to hold it outside!

JULY AND AUGUST
During the lazy days of summer we might do some outdoor wool dyeing. Activities change according to the interests and skills of the volunteers.

SEPTEMBER – TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
At the end of September, the Tollkeeper’s Cottage have been collaborating with an Indigenous Solidarity Group to recognize Truth and Reconciliaiton Day on September 30. We assist with hosting in Tollkeeper’s Park just behind the Cottage. An elder speaks to the group and there is drumming and dancing. Afterwards, Bannock and birch tea is served and t-shirts are sold to benefit Anishnawbe Health.

OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER Talks, Davenportage, ECOFAIR

The return of the fall means another cycle of Talks.

This past year we enjoyed a visit from the very popular Claire Goodchild, whose expertise in the paranormal extends to reading tea leaves and detecting metaphysical messages.

THE DAVENPORTAGE
In the fall, we also provide sustenance for a group of re-enactors of the coureur de bois fur traders, who canoed throughout the Great Lakes and Ontario Rivers.

They call themselves the Davenportage and paddle down the Don River, across Lake Ontario, up the Humber River, before carrying their canoes along Davenport Road. Once they arrive at Tollkeeper’s Cottage they get a good feeding of pea and lentil soup and scones before continuing on their journey.

ECOFAIR

Usually in November many organizations committed to living harmoniously with our environment have booths at the Wychwood Barns. Here we talk with visitors and sell our handmade products such as warm woollen socks, mitts and hats. Recently we introduced simple string games with visitors, or re-taught them to those who had learned as children.

DECEMBER Ghostly Tales; Cookie Day; Volunteer Pot Luck

In true Victorian tradition, we host an evening just before Christmas when our docents tell tales of the supernatural. We invite visitors to tell their own spine tingling stories. The discussion continues afterwards over tea and refreshments.

COOKIE DAY

One of our most popular yearly events is our fundraiser, Cookie Day. Our diligent baker volunteers create delicious cookies at modest prices and here we see many of our friends and members, and sometimes also our political representatives. The table is festive and we wish each other Happy Holidays.

VOLUNTEER POTLUCK DINNER

After the excitement of Cookie Day, our volunteers for the year are invited to share a dinner, beginning with vegetarian chili and our members’ favourite dishes. We relax and enjoy another successful year at the Tollkeeper’s Cottage.

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RENT OUR SPACE

We are happy to rent space in our resource area to individuals and non-profit organizations. In the past we have done so for birthday parties, wedding showers and environmental and historical groups and book clubs. Please be aware that fire regulations allow a maximum of 35 people in the resource area. Generally, the heritage Cottage itself is not available for rental.

We charge $40. per hour with a three-hour minimum payable at the time of use. There is a working kitchen, including an oven, small refrigerator and microwave oven. You may use our basic kitchen equipment. There is one bathroom on site. Our heat pump provides heat and air conditioning as needed.

Note also that the Cottage is not served by the internet; your devices must have their own provider, or you may set up a hot spot. We do not have telephone service; please ensure that you have a cell phone with you.

Should you arrange a rental agreement with us, one of our volunteers will be on site during that time.

Historical Walking Tours

You can join a group led by one of our docents to take a 2 hour walking tour featuring the history, geology, architecture, and gossip in any of 8 local areas.

Sign up to be notified when a visit is planned! Or if you wish, you can purchase a leaflet outlining the walk and do it on your own or with friends. But it is more fun with a guide!

Areas for our walks: Wychwood Park, the West Annex, the East Annex, Seaton Village, the Christie Pits area, the Casa Loma area, Tarragon Village, and the Garrison Creek ravine. Leaflets cost $5, and on the guided walks, we ask for a donation.

Send us an email and ask to be added to the list! Or come in to the museum and buy a leaflet. When a walk is advertised by email, and 4 or more people sign up, the walk is a go! We walk in a light rain, but not a downpour, and we avoid temperatures above 30C or so.

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Outlines of the walks:

Wychwood Park – a former artist’s colony, a peaceful enclave with turtles in a pond

Seaton Village – including its Black history dating back to the Underground Railroad

The Christie Pits area – Koreatown, the Riot, the Moccasin Identifier, and unusual houses

The West Annex – a hotbed of Canlit and the home of Jane Jacobs

Casa Loma – grand stables and an unusual sidewalk

Garrison Creek Ravine – the history of all Toronto ravines, and magnificent Indigenous murals

Tarragon village – George Brown, the Baldwin steps, and the city’s first rehab hospital

The East Annex – grand houses for grand people

Year with only one picture per month

JANUARY

The Tollkeeper’s Cottage is closed to the public during January, although inside meetings are going on and docents are working on ideas for the year’s programming.

FEBRUARY

Clothing can be made to last when mended. We offer mending services to your favourite items, along with lessons for you to develop these skills yourself! We also teach knitting and crochet.

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LATE WINTER AND SPRING

We host speakers and researchers who are committed to local history, conservation and sustainable practices. Here is Mark Stabb explaining the Legacy of a Lost Lake. For the speaker series, we request a $10. entrance fee.

APRIL 

We may conduct an egg dyeing workshop or Passover craft. Fun for adults as well as children!

MAY

On Victoria Day, we have an outdoor Victoria Day Tea, which allows our guests to celebrate the life of fine conversation and good manners. At our Tea you may, for a few moments, live the life of wealthy Victorians, sitting at lace covered tables, while being served tea in fine China tea cups with scones and clotted cream.

May is also the month for tidying up our beautiful pollinator garden. E have a loyal group of active gardeners who keep it attractive for visitors, not to mention the birds, bees and butterflies.

JUNE

During this month, as a way to continue our commitment to reuse, we may host a book sale or a sale of previously loved treasures and we usually have the good weather to hold it outside!

JULY AND AUGUST
During the lazy days of summer we might do some outdoor wool dyeing. Activities change according to the interests and skills of the volunteers.

JULY AND AUGUST ~ OUTDOOR CRAFTS/ACTIVITIES
During the summer we might do some outdoor wool dyeing or pressed flower pictures, activities that allow us to enjoy the outdoors.

We may even have a book reading, like this one by children’s author, Catherine Little.

SEPTEMBER ~ DAY OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER ~ DAVENPORTAGE

A fearless group of hardy paddlers re-enact the canoe trip made by coureurs de bois across Lake Ontario and up the Humber River, and portage their canoes along the old Davenport Road. Their stop is at the Tollkeeper’s Cottage, where they find refreshment of pea soup and biscuits before continuing onto the Don River.

DECEMBER ~ GHOSTLY TALES

In true Victorian tradition, we host an evening just before Christmas when our docents tell tales of the supernatural. We invite visitors to tell their own spine tingling stories. The discussion continues afterwards over tea and refreshments.

DECEMBER ~ COOKIE DAY

One of our most popular annual events is our fundraiser, Cookie Day. Our diligent baker volunteers create delicious cookies at modest prices and here we see many of our friends and members, and sometimes also our political representatives. The table is festive and we wish each other Happy Holidays.

And right after Cookie Day is our VOLUNTEER POTLUCK DINNER.

Our volunteers work very hard to keep the Cottage clean and well-maintained, and they plan and carry out many annual activities. This event is a time for them to gather together for a delicious dinner shared among people who love this modest heritage house. Well done all!

NEW SECTION

(Finding a picture soon)

RENT OUR SPACE

We are happy to rent space in our resource area to individuals and non-profit organizations. In the past we have done so for birthday parties, wedding showers and environmental and historical groups and book clubs. Please be aware that fire regulations allow a maximum of 35 people in the resource area. Generally, the heritage Cottage itself is not available for rental.

We charge $40. per hour with a three-hour minimum payable at the time of use. There is a working kitchen, including an oven, small refrigerator and microwave oven. You may use our basic kitchen equipment. There is one bathroom on site. Our heat pump provides heat and air conditioning as needed.

Note also that the Cottage is not served by the internet; your devices must have their own provider, or you may set up a hot spot. We do not have telephone service; please ensure that you have a cell phone with you.

Should you arrange a rental agreement with us, one of our volunteers will be on site during that time.