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Carrolls ... we are Anglicans. They are, however, about equally numerous. When Peter Carroll came to the head of Hamilton Bay in the 1840's, he first acquired a rambling cottage and possessed some land which he named Bayview, later to become Wabasso Park. The newcomer to the shores of the Bay, however, had more pretentious plans as to what he would like in a home. He had a collaborator in his grand plans in a talented old country architect who was familiar with the splendid homes of the landed gentry in the British Isles. Together the two worked out the details of what was to become Rock Bay. Peter Carroll invited his friend to spend a winter with him in Canada. The result of their plans and studies doubtless brought equal joy to both architect and home builder. The interior of Carroll's great house was in harmony with its splendid exterior. Stepping out of your carriage beneath the handsome porte cochere, you passed through a great doorway to enter a spacious hall. Off this was a circular reception hall, graced with a large fireplace in which would be burning a generous supply of well-seasoned oak logs, if the weather happened to be chilly. From this room, stairways led to a balcony above, from which doors opened into the various bed-chambers. In the reception room the ceiling was two storeys high. An impressive square tower gave the exterior the appearance of a Scottish baronial castle, though not as large perhaps. In the drawing-room was a prized possession, rare, indeed, at that time in Upper Canada, a grand piano. The walls were hung with family portraits in oils, while heavy brocaded curtains adorned the windows and added comfort to the rooms on chilly nights, when burning logs and the light of many candles cheered the hearts of the family and their numerous guests. The furniture was of native walnut, with some pieces of rosewood and mahogany. All in all the Carroll mansion was at the same time distinguished and homelike. But all things in this mortal life have an end. Old family mansions are not easy to keep up. Fashions in houses changed with a decided preference for something not so large. The founder of the home passed away and there was no family to carry on. Finally the mansion fell prey to fire and in time even the stones hauled to the spot with such loving care were pulverized to make material for road building. Rock Bay became only a memory. Photo of ROCK BAY MANSION AFTER THE FIRE Carroll's property is now the site of Woodlands Cemetery.