The Richmond Road tollhouse - photo found!

For the past two-plus years, I have been saddened by the realization that the days are numbered for the O'Neil House on Wellington Street West (better known today as Bella's restaurant). This great old house, which dates back to 1896, will be torn down as part of the development of the Mizrahi building. You can read more about its history here, in an article I wrote in 2015: http://kitchissippimuseum.blogspot.ca/2015/11/expanding-on-old-richmond-road.html

That article was a follow-on to my published article in the Kitchissppi Times on the Richmond Road toll house which used to stand next to it for many years:

https://kitchissippi.com/2015/10/16/landmark-building-of-wellington-st/

The Bella's house is significant because it is the last remaining vestige in this area of what Richmond Road originally was (the original road west, the first maintained road, a toll road, a country road line with the impressive estates and villas of some of the area's most esteemed residents of the era). The loss of Bella's marks a true end of that era for Richmond Road/Wellington in the Wellington Village area.

I searched hard in 2015 for a photo of the old toll house to use in my articles, but was unsuccessful. However, within the last few weeks, I acquired an amazing archive of local history photos and documents, and included in it, was a photo from 1911-1912, of the toll house! So I am happy to be able to share that today below. Keep in mind, the toll house would have stood almost at the corner of what is today Island Park Drive.

Richmond Road toll house, circa 1911-1912.
Pictured is toll master Richard Bassett and likely his wife.

Richmond Road continued to operate as a toll road until 1922 (the opposite end of the toll road was in Bells Corners), and the toll house was eventually torn down in 1929 to make way for the gas station that operated in this location for many years.

Here is the 1920 photo of Bella's that I've shared previously. Note there would have been a house in between the toll house and Bella's (which I have yet to find a photo of as well!)

O'Neil House in 1920 (now Bella's) on Wellington West

Always a good feeling to find a much-sought after photo!

Cheers!