Toll Gate at Yonge & Bloor

Toll Gate at Yonge & Bloor

A toll gate at the north-east corner of Bloor and Yonge Streets, generally known as the "First" was erected in the early 1830s. The small keeper's house was moved to Davenport Road in 1850 when a covered way was added along withtwo further rooms. The move was made in order to catch the farmers who were turning off early to avoid the toll on their way to market. The Yorkville Council in 1868 passed a motion requesting the County to move the toll gate to
the northern limit of the village in that "it present position in the heart of this village
is an eyesore to the inhabitants and a great injury to them in a pecuniary pointof view." It ended up at Farnham Avenue until in 1895 all toll gates were abolished. The tolls in effect in 1875 ranged from 1 cent for each pig, sheep or goat to 10 cents for every vehicle with a load drawn by a
horse.

Courtesy: Toronto Public Library

Stephanie Hutcheson

1978