Montgomery's Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Montgomery's Inn |
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| General information | |
| Type | Living history museum |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Address | 4709 Dundas Street West Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Named for | Thomas Montgomery |
| Completed | c. 1832 |
| Owner | City of Toronto |
Montgomery's Inn is a special old building in the Etobicoke area of Toronto, Ontario. It was first built as an inn, which is like a hotel for travelers. Today, it's a living history museum. This means you can visit and see what life was like long ago! The City of Toronto owns this historic place.
Contents
The Inn's Story
Building a New Home
Montgomery's Inn was built in the early 1830s. It was a large, fancy building in the Georgian style. The inn was named after its owner, Thomas Montgomery. He was born in Ireland in 1790 and moved to Upper Canada, which is what Ontario was called back then. Thomas Montgomery bought a lot of land, about 400 acres, in the area now known as Etobicoke.
Life After the Inn
In 1856, Thomas Montgomery closed the inn. He continued to live in the building with his family. After that, the Montgomery family rented out the property as a private farm house until 1946. Over the years, different groups owned the building. These included a church, a developer, and local historical societies. Finally, the City of Toronto took ownership.
A Glimpse into the Past
At one point, Montgomery's Inn was almost torn down. But now, it's a treasured reminder of early Canadian history. Most of the items inside today are not the original ones. However, they are all from the same time period. Some items even belonged to the Montgomery family! They help tell the story of life in Upper Canada.
Location and Travel
The inn is located at 4709 Dundas Street West. This is on the corner of Islington Avenue and Dundas Street. Dundas Street was named after Henry Dundas, a British leader. It was an important road connecting the town of York (now Toronto) to other settlements. This road helped move supplies and soldiers. In the 1830s, Dundas Street became a route for stagecoaches. Inns like Montgomery's were built along the way. They offered food and a place to sleep for weary travelers.
Images for kids
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Fuel for the kitchen hearth, whose treats are shared with visitors.
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The inn once welcomed travelers under this transom, or fanlight.
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The foreground section was built of rubble stone around 1830.
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Another view of the exterior.
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The original inn sign was rescued from the trash.
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The bar was discovered hidden by a wall during renovations.
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Dances and meetings were held upstairs.
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The pantry served guests and the family.
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Strangers commonly shared a bed, sleeping in reverse positions.
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The family room was off-limits to customers.
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Thomas Montgomery ran a prosperous business and farm from this room.
Farmers' Market
You can visit a farmers' market at the inn every Wednesday. It runs all year long!
See also
