Heart of the San Juan’s

Cruising the San Juan Islands is not complete without a stop at Roche Harbor on the west end of San Juan Island.  It is the heart and soul of the islands with untold charm and historic significance.  We always make a point of visiting the Mausoleum, the Lime Kilns, the Company Store, and Hotel de Haro. 

Company Store

The Hotel was named after the Spanish explorer, Capt. Lopez de Haro who discovered and named the San Juan Islands in 1787.  The Hudson Bay Co. built a log structure on the site sometime between 1845 and 1850.  It was 1886 when John McMillin built the Hotel de Haro around the original log structure.  Several famous individuals have stayed at the Hotel, including President Theodore Roosevelt, President William Howard Taft, and actor John Wayne.  1886 is also when John McMillin purchased the lime kiln holdings from the Scurr brothers, who had previously purchased the lime kilns from Joe Ruff in 1881. 

Lime Kilns - Roche Harbor

The first two lime kilns were built by the British under the direction of Lt. Richard Roche stationed at English Camp on nearby Garrison Bay during the Pig War (1858-1872).  By 1890, Roche Harbor was a full blown company town. 

Lime Works - Roche Harbor

Limestone was quarried and transported to the kilns where it was burned down into industrial lime, a much needed ingredient in the production of steel, plaster, cement, and paper.  Bethlehem steel was a major customer. 

Company Town Generators

Diesel-fired generators, installed by McMillin, were used to power the lime plant, offices, hotel, and employee housing. 

The Chapel - Roche Harbor

In 1892 the Chapel was built as a Methodist Church, John McMillin’s denomination.  A “circuit rider” minister provided regular services, and during the week the church was used as a school for the children of company employees.  A schoolhouse was built later which now serves as a cottage for Roche Harbor Resort in addition to the company houses. 

School House and Company Homes

Next began the construction of a mausoleum in 1930 for the future internment of himself and his family.  It was completed in its present state by the spring of 1936. 

The "Afterglow Vista" Mausoleum

The structure incorporates symbols from the Bible, the Masons, and the Sigma Chi fraternity, all of which were important to McMillin as well as his own views of family unity.  

McMillin Family Mausoleum

The columns were created to be the same size as those of King Solomon’s temple and the broken column depicts the broken column of life.  Six stone and concrete chairs surround a round table made of limestone and concrete. 

Crypt Chairs, the Family Union

The chair bases are crypts for the family ashes while the set represents their union after death. 

Grave Sites in the Forest

We enjoyed our hike through the woods and paused at some of the company grave sites on our way to the mausoleum.  The trail begins just past the small airstrip, upland from the marina.  Of course the airstrip is another must see on our list; we landed our Mooney Airplane here in the early 1990’s, a special remembrance for us.  After seeing the airstrip again, I had to marvel how we landed such a fast airplane on such a short runway!

Roche Harbor Airstrip