McMillin Memorial Mausoleum, Roche Harbor, Washington

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Mike Gains, of Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 in Victoria, has provided us with some photographs he took during a recent visit to the McMillin Memorial Mausoleum in Roche Harbor, Washington.

Freemasons travelling to Roche Harbor may want to visit this site, which contains a lot of Masonic symbolism.

McMillin Mausoleum information plaque, Roche Harbor, Washington (photo by Mike Gains, V&Q, No.2)
McMillin Mausoleum information plaque, Roche Harbor, Washington (photo by Mike Gains, V&Q, No.2)
McMillin Mausoleum, Roche Harbor, Washington (photo by Mike Gains, V&Q, No.2)
McMillin Mausoleum, Roche Harbor, Washington (photo by Mike Gains, V&Q, No.2)
McMillin Mausoleum entrance gate, Roche Harbor, Washington (photo by Mike Gains, V&Q, No.2)
McMillin Mausoleum entrance gate, Roche Harbor, Washington (photo by Mike Gains, V&Q, No.2)
Mike Gains of V&Q, Lodge, No. 2, at the McMillin Mausoleum, Roche Harbor, Washington. (photo by Mike Gains, V&Q, No.2)
Mike Gains of V&Q, Lodge, No. 2, at the McMillin Mausoleum, Roche Harbor, Washington. (photo by Mike Gains, V&Q, No.2)
McMillin Mausoleum, Roche Harbor, Washington. The seats hold the cremated remains of McMillin family members. (photo by Mike Gains, V&Q, No.2)
McMillin Mausoleum, Roche Harbor, Washington. The seats hold the cremated remains of McMillin family members. (photo by Mike Gains, V&Q, No.2)
Broken Column at the McMillin Mausoleum, Roche Harbor, Washington. (photo by Mike Gains, V&Q, No.2)
Broken Column at the McMillin Mausoleum, Roche Harbor, Washington. (photo by Mike Gains, V&Q, No.2)

John S. McMillin was a lawyer who went into the lime business in 1886. Lime is a key component of cement, which was the key component of concrete. After 1876, concrete was becoming an increasingly popular building material and McMillin’s Roche Harbor Lime Company was a key supplier of cement in the western US.

John S. McMillin was a friend of Robert Pym Butchart, whose limestone quarries and cement factory at Tod Inlet is now the Butchart Gardens.

John S. McMillin and Robert Butchart were both Freemasons and Masonic symbolism is openly visible throughout the McMillin Mausoleum.

The entrance stairway consists of 3 steps, followed by 5 steps, followed by 7 steps. This is covered in the Fellow Craft Degree.

The Broken Column is a frequent feature of Masonic graves.

The circumference and diameter of the columns are the same as those of King Solomon’s Temple.

Here are some pages with more information on the McMullin Memorial Mausoleum:

Here is a map showing the location of McMillin Memorial Mausoleum in Roche Harbor, Washington: