You can drive through Rollo Bay West today and, unless you are observing the roadside signs, you'll never koow you did it. But we still have one enduring attraction that no one can fail to notice and that is the Bay itself.

Alan Rayburn's book of geograhical names of P.E.I. will tell you that the Bay was named by Samuel Holland for Lord Andrew Rollo who was in command after the English took over from the French in 1758. But I prefer the story told by our local historian, William Peters, that the Bay was first called "Rollo" by the ealy Acadians. They would remember their homeland with a similar bay where the low tide left nearly a mile of wide sandy beach and named the bay after their patron saint, Rollo the Granger.

The coast of northern France was inhabited by wild Gallic tribes to whom Christian missionaries came at an early date. Later Hrolf of Norway (Rollo ) seized Rouen and compelled Charles the Simple to make him Duke of Normandy. But when his proxy had to perform the ceremony of allegiance by kissing the King's foot, that ruddy Viking stood erect, lifted the royal foot to his mouth and toppled the king over backward.

Rollo married Giscla, daughter of Charles the Simple and from them came the Dukes of Nornlandy, one of whom was William of England, better kowan as William the Conqueror. So adaptable were the Northmen that they soon became more Gallic than the more civilized Gauls themselves, and zealously restored the very monasteries that they had destroyed. And Rollo the Granger became their patron saint. It may even be that the English Lord Rollo's roots went back to Hrolf of Norway. Rather ironic that that boUt should somehow become connected with our Rollo Bay.

Today, tourists frequently stop by the roadside to take pictures of the Bay. But travellers of an earlier age, had more numerous attractions. Passing through Rollo Bay West from west over a rough road they could pause at Robert White's to water their horses or post a Ietter and then move on to John McRae's Tavern for refreshments. From that point they had a good view of Harbour Matthew. (The timbers of the old wharf can still be seen at the channel's edge at low tide).

From the tavern, the road went by Joseph Webster's farm and crossed the spring on Charles Townshend's farm. Here the road branched north and west.

The stagecoach route proceeded west passing Keays' store and MacDougall's Tavern. At the shore on the line between the Webster and Townshend farms was a shipyard. Here sailing vessels were built and launched. The old cellar and slip were still visable a number of years ago.

After crossing a brook the road again divided, one branch going south. The stagecoach still travelled west stopping at the Wayside at the Wayside Inn operated by James O'Donnell whose obituary states that Governor Bannerman stayed at this Inn on his tour of the Island. When the crowd crowd cheered their new Governor, the horses took fright and ran away. (James O'Donnell was married three times. First to Mary Ann Curtis daughter of Captain Curtis, then to Bridget May and then to Margaret Kavanagh ).

Other attractions in the area iocluded stores operated by the Fishers and by Mrs. Peter Chaisson, blacksmith shops by Keays and Donald MacDonald.

Rollo Bay West school was built over a hundred years ago on land at the foot of the hill which was owned by a Mrs. Beaton. Fifty years later it was repaired and moved to the top of the hill where it now stands.

Over a hundred years ago in Rollo Bay West you could shoe a horse, build a ship, walk to school, buy your groceries, go to a post ofiice or tavern still admire the Bay.

Copyright
Waldron H. Leard