As ‘Leslieville dollhouse’ farewells, well-wishers leave with pieces of ‘Toronto history’

Visiting from England, Nancy Mitchell decided that Sunday would be a great day to hit the streets of Toronto.

While walking around the east side, Mitchell followed her aunt and uncle’s advice on where to go – 37 Bertmount Ave. to be precise.

That east side address is the “Leslieville Dollhouse,” which was sold earlier this year to new owners, who held a farewell event for well-wishers on Sunday.

“This is history,” Mitchell said.

“Toronto History, and It Goes.”

After about fifty years of bringing joy to neighbors and tourists, the previous owners of the life-size dollhouse, near Queen Street East and Jones Avenue, put the house up for sale this summer.

It was decorated with hundreds of dolls, toys and other items, many of which were donated to the homeowner over the years.

Tom Sumaisar, son of owner Shirley Sumaisar, told Global News in July that the family sold the iconic home because his mother’s health was deteriorating and she needed more care.

He said the house was first known for its front yard, for which his mother received an award from the City of Toronto. When the garden became too difficult to maintain, Sumaisar’s mother “turned to Halloween and Christmas themes.”

Collecting the dolls became a hobby and a distraction for Sumaisar’s mother after his father’s death, he said, adding that the house has taken on a life of its own and people come to see it from “all over the world.” .

“I love my mother, and in a way I wish she could stay here and maintain the house, but she can’t maintain it anymore,” he said.

“I wish she could keep this forever. And she wishes she could keep it forever. But her health is not the best.”

Lori Clyke was one of many who stopped by the dollhouse on Sunday.

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“I’m going to miss it. It’s just something for the kids to watch. It also helps them learn about diversity,” she said.

“Not everyone needs to have a white picket fence and a pink house. You can have this and still be loved by your neighbors.”

Bradley Sutherland and his partner had been looking for their first property in Leslieville for a while, and never imagined it would be the Dollhouse.

“Our broker said that there was a copy on the market for a reason. … When we stopped, we saw this beauty house,” he told Global News.

“It’s a project…We definitely wanted something that we would make ourselves.”

Sutherland said they wanted to host the farewell event because they knew how much it meant to the area. Passersby could take a toy of their choice in exchange for a donation to MLSE’s Change the Game campaign.

“We’ve heard stories from people who have been coming here since they were kids,” he said.

“We wanted to find an organization that captures the youth and joy that this home has brought to children in the community.”

Sutherland added at the end of the day that they are “very excited to be around.”

“We are happy to make this our new home,” he says.

“This felt like a perfect opportunity for people to come out… and hopefully make a fresh start for the next chapter.”

— with files from Caryn Lieberman

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