Want a piece of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ history? This weekend’s your chance, as the new owners of the Leslieville dollhouse plan to giveaway dolls and other items off the facade of one of city’s most famous homes.
It was described to Bradley Sutherland and his partner by their realtor as “a bit of a project.”
When they pulled up to the home onÌýBertmount Avenue, near Queen Street East and Jones Avenue, it was undoubtedly familiar. Tanned and tattered toys, dolls and miscellaneous baubles line nearly every conceivable surface of the home — a years-long collection, each with a personal significance to the many who have visited the home.
It was a daunting task to take on a home that has been featured in international publications and has its own Google Maps landmark.
Shirley Sumaisar has been collecting knick-knacks on her front porch and yard for over three decades. Now, the doll-adorned three-bedroom,
They had seen the attraction before, but when the prospect of buying it came up, they looked at it with a fresh perspective.
“We were definitely a bit overwhelmed,” Sutherland said. “Although the old owner put a lot of care and love into it, clearly it was not our esthetic.”
The interior of the home was just as eclectic as the outside, he added.Ìý
Still, the pair bought the home and plan to renovate it “with a kind of a facelift,” Sutherland said.
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What happened to the Leslieville dollhouse?
The semi-detached, three-bedroom home was listed for $999,000 in July and sold for $900,000.
Its previous owner,ÌýShirley Sumaisar, had started her ornate collection years ago, as she grew older and had difficulty maintaining her garden. A few Halloween decorations turned into an expansive array of knick-knacks, put there for the neighbourhood kids and nearby daycare. The collection grew over time — strangers would leave dolls on Sumaisar’s front porch or give her gifts on the street.
But, with increasing care needs for Shirley, now 83, her son TomÌýSumaisar has moved her closer to his east-end home.
With their new home, the Sutherland and his partner are already experiencing some local notoriety.
While out for drinks with a few friends mulling over what to do with the dolls, people at the next table over heard their conversation and asked Bradley if they planned to keep any of the dolls, even just one, as an homage to the dollhouse name. The exchange isÌýperhaps an indication ofÌýjust how invested people areÌýall over the city, and even across the world,Ìýin their new home.
Tom said that the move was difficult for his mom — when they brought her back for a last visit, she thought they were staying. Before she left, Shirley received a package from Australia, from a woman who had visited the unforgettable house, saw the news of the home’s sale and asked for a doll to be sent to her.
Now, Sutherland and his partner plan to host a giveaway — a last hurrah for the iconic Leslieville home and a chance for neighbours and doll-enthusiasts to grab a memento.
“We wanted to see if we could invite the neighbourhood and the community out to have a look at it one last time,” Bradley said, “and be able to take a piece home with them and hopefully give back to a good cause.”
Tom said he’s happy the new owners are giving away the dolls, little bits of his mom’s legacy, so that it can continue to live on in the homes of those across the city.Ìý
The giveaway will happen on Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sutherland is asking for a small donation to the , either by cash or by QR code at the house, so you can take a piece of the dollhouse home with you.Ìý
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