History they can touch
Students step into a real 1861 home and meet the family who kept the Davenport toll gate — through the objects they used every day. Docents in period dress lead the group through the cottage, and the visit adapts to your class: younger children explore how a home works with no light switches and no taps, while older students dig into tolls, roads, and how a young Toronto paid for itself. Tell us what your class is studying and we’ll build the visit around it.
Hands-on means hands-on: a recent daycare group churned cream into butter and ate it on fresh baguette. Plan on about an hour on site.
The practical details
Cost
$6 per child for a booked class or daycare visit, or $7.50 if you’d like to add a snack. Group visit fees are not eligible for a tax receipt.
Scheduling
Class and daycare visits are arranged by email — tell us a few dates that might work. Our docents are volunteers, so a little back-and-forth is normal before a date is settled.
Larger groups
A big group is no trouble — we split it into a morning and an afternoon session so every child gets a proper turn. Tell us your numbers and we’ll work out the shape of the day with you.
Games in the yard
Weather permitting, we can add horseshoes, ring toss or stilts. A child holding a real horseshoe and working out how big the horse must have been tends to remember the visit. Ask for it when you write and we’ll plan for it.
Getting here
750 Davenport Road at Bathurst. TTC Bus 7 from St Clair West Station and Bus 127 from Dupont Station both stop at our door. One washroom on site.
Daycares & camps too
Younger groups are very welcome — the visit shortens and gets more hands-on. Summer camps and PA-day programs book the same way.
Indoor space
Our resource room seats up to 35, which comfortably fits a class plus accompanying adults for activities and snacks.
Still deciding? See photos of school visits
A relaxed afternoon together
A private Cottage visit can move at your group’s pace, with time to sit, ask questions and talk about the objects and stories that spark memories. Seniors’ residences, clubs, social groups, Guides and Scouts, historical societies, and other community organizations are all welcome.
Add tea and cookies after the tour and the visit becomes an easy social outing as well as a trip into Toronto’s past.
- Guided visit$6 per person
- With tea$7.50 per person, with tea and cookies
- PaceUnhurried, with seating where needed and time for questions
- BookingArrange a date with us in advance
Gather somewhere a little different
Our resource room can be rented for small celebrations, showers, book clubs, meetings and community gatherings. It gives your event a quiet neighbourhood setting beside one of Toronto’s smallest historic museums.
The anniversary shown here also used the grounds. For some events, outdoor use may be possible by arrangement — tell us what you have in mind and we’ll let you know what can be accommodated.
- Cost$40 an hour, three-hour minimum
- CapacityUp to 35 people in the resource room
- FacilitiesKitchen, one washroom, heating and cooling
- On siteA Cottage volunteer remains on site during the rental
There is no internet or phone line, so bring a hotspot and a cell phone if needed. The heritage Cottage itself is not available for rental.
Ask about a rentalSend us a note about a class, group visit, or rental
Send us a note
Tell us roughly what you have in mind and we’ll write back, usually within a few days.
tollkeeperscottage@gmail.com