Introduction . . .
Rollo Bay is situated ajacent to Northumberland Strait in
Lots 43 and 44. It was named by Surveyor-General Samuel Holland for Andrew, the 5th. Lord Rollo (1703-1765) who captured P.E.I. from the French and supervised their deportation in 1758, and later distinguished himself in the capture of Canada and in fighting in the West Indies. It appears in 1752 as Havre a Mathieu. Pichon named the area anse a Matieu. Mathieu Turin had a family of ten near East Point in 1752. He had settled there in 1719. The community is situated west of Souris. There was a post office from ca. 1854 to 1888 and from 1896 to 1904. Additional post offices serving the area included Rollo Bay Cross from 1873 to 1904 and Rollo Bay Centre from 1904 to 1914. The school district was known as Rollo Bay East.
A brief history . . .
The first settlers of the mission of St. Alexis, Rollo Bay: Paul Pitre, Joseph Pitre, William Pitre, Joseph Bourke, Simon Bourke, L'Aumant Chaisson, Raphael Chaisson, Jean Chaisson, Jean Longue-epee, Jean D'Aigle and Charles D'Aigle.
Bishop Plessis of Quebec visited Rollo Bay on July 17, 1812. He gave the local church, the name St. Alexis.
Rollo Bay was a busy place in 1888. It had three post offices; Lawrence Peter's in Lower Rollo Bay, Alex Chaisson's at Rollo Bay Cross and Archibald MacDougall's at Rollo Bay West.
The newly-constructed Consolidated Elementary School in Rollo Bay was officially opened on December 6, 1966 by Souris West native, the Hon. W. J. MacDonald, Lieutenant-Governor of P.E.I.
Interesting individuals associated with the community . . .
Darla Chaisson, J.J. Chaisson, Elmer Deagle, Kurt Chaisson, Brent Chaisson and Timothy Chaisson were born at Charlottetown, P.E.I. They are Musicians and Recording Artists and collectively were known as Kindle. They are first cousins who were raised in the Rollo Bay parish and reside in the Souris, P.E.I. area. They are the fifth generation of the Chaisson family who were performing musicians. The group has performed throughout Canada and the eastern United States. They have recorded a C.D. as a group but also appear on other recordings as individuals. They have earned several awards and nominations. The group has disbanded.
Today . . .
Peter Arseneau - Almagamated Dairies RepresentativeC. J.'s Flys
C. J.'s Towing
Kenny Chaisson - Musician
Lemmie Chaisson - Musician
Eastern Kings Wildcats Tackle Football Field
Fiddlin' Lobster Country Casual Dining
Lord Rollo Dining Room
Mahar's Plumbing & Heating
Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival Grounds
Copyright
Waldron H. Leard
