Toronto's Historical Plaques

Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.

The Old Toll Gate House

Time to pay that toll! Yes, many of early Toronto's streets had toll houses. Money raised was used to pay for improvements to the road. This 1998 plaque, erected by the York Local Architectual Conservation Advisory Committee on the south side of Dundas Street West just east of Scarlett Road, gives us some information:

Established as a toll road under the Turnpike Act of 1833, this road, now Dundas Street, was the primary route for commerce and stage coach travel between Toronto and South Western Ontario. Money paid by travellers was to pay for the upkeep of the road. This was the site of Toll Gate House number Five. Tolls were charged for each horse and rider, hog, cow or sheep driven along the road, and each wagon depending on the load and whether drawn by one horse or two. There was no charge for funerals or going to church on Sunday and no toll for the military. Located here from 1857, the toll gate house was subsequently used as a dwelling unit until it was demolished in 1858 to make way for a gas station.

Location Co-ordinates: 43.665489 -79.498218

Photo by Alan L Brown - September 2006

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