A wealthy socialite whose ancestors went back to the American Revolution, Carolyn was also a skillful businesswoman with a love for architecture and a keen knack for making money in real estate. Who's Who in the Nation?s Capital lists her as "Active in civic betterment, especially related to better constructed and better planned homes." It also credits her with designing and building one of the large apartment houses in the Nation?s Capital.

Therefore, it came as not surprise to many of her close friends that she designed and personally supervised the construction of her new house. Frequent visits to auction and antique dealers in the area helped her furnish her country estate.

Carolyn and her husband, John Wilson Caughey, had no children. But, as a true model for women?s achievement long before such traits were fashionable, she was extremely interested in character building for young women and wanted her country estate to be used for that purpose. Her admiration for the fledging Girl Scout movement during the early 1930?s, personified by courage and leadership displayed by young Helen Zelov, during a theater fire in Washington, DC, led her to select the organization to become the beneficiary of her beloved Rockwood. Carolyn Gangwer died at Rockwood in July 1936.

Initially operated by the local council and, after 1946 by national organization, the estate became known as ?Rockwood Girl Scout National Center?, offering accommodations in its dormitory style units for civic, cultural, religious and educational groups. At its height, Rockwood, as one of only four National Girl Scout Camps in the United States, played host to 15,000 to 20,000 Girl Scouts each year, as they came to visit Washington.

Then, in 1976 the board of directors of Girl Scouts USA Inc., citing excessive costs in operating the center, announced their intention to sell Rockwood to local developers who wanted to build single-family homes on the 93-acre site. Local scout troops and citizens' associations came together in 1979 as a 'Rescue Rockwood Committee' and filed a class action suit to block the sale, claiming it violated the terms of Carolyn Caughey?s Will. The case was settled in 1981. Approximately sixty acres were sold to developers. The remaining thirty acres and ownership of the Manor House, Carolyn Cottage and several other buildings were transferred to The Maryland-National Capital Parks & Planning Commission, for use as a public park.

The Commission, through its Department of Parks in Montgomery County, has renovated the property. To carry out Carolyn Caughhey?s legacy, Rockwood Manor Park plays host to social, civic, business organizations and to Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Youth Groups and students of Montgomery County Public Schools as overnight conference center and meeting place.