The Toll House
I have driven by this house too many times to count and had not thought to learn more.
The Toll House in Wellesley is one of those places that quietly sits in the background, until you take a moment to understand what it once was.
Built in 1824 by Daniel Dadmun, one of the early tollkeepers on the Worcester Turnpike, this small building once played an important role in travel between Boston and the towns to the west. At a time when roads were privately funded, travelers would stop here to pay a toll, supporting the construction and maintenance of what is now Route 9.
What makes this building even more remarkable is that it already has more than one life. In 1975, during the expansion of Route 9, the Wellesley Historical Society purchased The Toll House from the McNamara family for just one dollar. Rather than lose it to development, they carefully moved it from its original location to where it stands today in Wellesley.
That decision preserved a piece of early transportation history. Standing in front of it, you can imagine a time when this was a stopping point on a longer journey. A place where travelers paused, paid their way forward, and continued west. It is a quiet reminder that even the smallest building once played an essential role in shaping how we moved, connected and grew.
It is also a reminder to me to stay curious, to look closer and wonder why certain places are preserved, and how communities come together to protect what matters. These choices reflect an understanding that history lives not just in grand landmarks, but in everyday structures that tell the story of who we were and how we became who we are.
Read More From Nancy
Hunnewell Mansion
On our way home from our office in Wellesley, we took Route 16 toward Natick. Along this familiar stretch of road, our eyes are drawn to this impressive white mansion set back from the street, framed by trees and sweeping lawns. We are reminded how much history quietly lines the roads we travel every day, waiting to […]
A Dress from Paris
One of the exhibits that caught my attention at the Wellesley Historical Society was this elegant green and blue striped dress, a reminder that fashion can tell us as much about history as letters, photographs, or documents. Created by the House of Doeuillet in Paris between 1905 and 1906, the dress was worn by a […]
Wellesley Historical Society
Standing at 323 Washington Street in Wellesley Hills, the Stanwood House has been part of this neighborhood for more than a century. Today it is the home of the Wellesley Historical Society and the Wellesley History & Exhibit Center, but the building began as both the family home and medical office of one of Wellesley’s […]
