Bordered by Bathurst Street, St. Clair Avenue, the CN rail tracks and Dovercourt Road lies the beautiful and peaceful neighbourhood of Wychwood.
If you are looking for a splendid day out there are so many things to do in Wychwood; here are a few of my personal favourites:
1. The Tollkeeper’s Cottage
Tolls are a familiar concept to Ontarians. If you have ever taken the 407 or the 412 you will know that either your transponder or a camera taking an image of your licence plate is how your vehicle is tracked and charged.
Back in 1861, there were no transponders and cameras were too expensive to use to track passers-by. A farmer named John Bullmin had a cottage situated by a tollgate located on the southeast corner of Davenport and Bathurst (then Cruikshank’s Lane). He and his wife Elizabeth had to be available seven days a week come rain, snow, sleet or shine. As long as you passed through the stretch of Cruikshank’s Lane that was designated as private, the Bullmins had to collect the toll for doing so. Come see Canada’s oldest surviving tollkeeper’s cottage for a glimpse of what life looked like and how much travel cost back in the mid 1800s. While there the differences are many, it is satisfying to know that even 200 years ago people hated paying tolls.
2. Hillcrest Park
Located at Davenport and Christie, this beautiful 2.1 hectare park features a variety of things to do in Wychwood. You can bring your kids for a great day in the children’s playground or wading pool. Perhaps you are more of the sporty type and would enjoy playing on the baseball diamond, the basketball court or one of the four outdoor tennis courts. If you have a furry companion, there is an off-leash area for running around and there is a beautiful community garden for you to enjoy as well.
3. Artscape Wychwood Barns
Originally built in the early 1900s, this former streetcar repair barn is now a thriving and vibrant community cultural hub. In one barn there are 26 live/work studios for artists, 15 artist work studios and 9 non-profit arts and environmental organizations. The second barn features a 7000+ square foot venue for private functions. All the projects done in the Wychwood Barns are initiatives that benefit the community and they can be enjoyed both in the Barns as well as in the surrounding Wychwood Barns Park. There is a weekly farmer’s market, story telling at the Story Tent, Wellness Workshops as well as exhibitions and performances.
4. Dutch Dreams
Dutch Dreams is a Wychwood institution. It has been a part of the Wychwood community for over 25 years and serves some of the most delicious ice cream you can find in the city. The recipe used to make their ice cream is a secret one that belongs to the family and has been passed down from generation to generation.
These are just some of the many things to do in Wychwood. It is such an historic and pretty neighbourhood to live in or visit. If you would like to move to the Wychwood area, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would love to tell you help you find the home of your dreams in this beautiful corner of the city.
