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48°36′57″N 123°08′56″W / 48.615947°N 123.149003°W | |
Location | 664 Afterglow Dr, Friday Harbor, Washington, U.S. |
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Afterglow Vista (also known as the McMillin Memorial Mausoleum and Afterglow Mausoleum) is a mausoleum located in San Juan County, Washington, United States, near Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor. It is the final resting place of businessman John S. McMillin, his wife and children, [1] and one of the family's employees. The design of the mausoleum incorporates numerous instances of symbolism, some of it Masonic in nature. [2]
Afterglow Vista serves as the final resting place of John S. McMillin and several members of his family. During his life, McMillin was a lawyer, businessman and political figure. Born in Indiana in 1855, [3] [4] McMillin attended DePauw University, where he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, and served as the fraternity's first Grand Consul, or international president. [5] In 1884, McMillin moved with his wife and son from Indiana to Washington Territory, [4] where he became the owner of Tacoma and Roche Harbor Lime Company. [6] He was also an ardent Freemason. [7]
Six years before he died, McMillin ordered for Afterglow Vista to be built. [8] Construction was completed in 1936, the year of McMillin's death, and cost $30,000. [8]
The mausoleum is located in a wooded area, and can be accessed by following a trail through a set of gates topped with the words "Afterglow Vista". [9] [10]
The mausoleum itself consists of an open-air rotunda with a limestone table in its center. [1] Around the table are several stone chairs for each member of the McMillin family, inside each of which are hollow niches containing the cremated ashes of the family members. [1] [9] Inscribed on the backs of the chairs are the corresponding names of each individual. [9] There are numerous instances of Masonic symbolism incorporated into the mausoleum's design. [11] Surrounding the stone table and chairs are six columns, along with one intentionally broken column. [1] [9] The broken column is meant to symbolize the concept that "death breaks the column of any man's life", [9] [10] or alternately, to represent the idea of unfinished work in one's life. [11] The steps leading to the stone table and chairs represent "stages of life, orders in architecture, the human senses, and the liberal arts and sciences." [11]
Afterglow Vista has been called a "Masonic landmark". [12] The mausoleum's care is monitored by the Sigma Chi fraternity's Monuments and Memorials Commission. [12]
Afterglow Vista serves as the final resting place of John S. McMillin, his wife Louella Hiett, their sons John Hiett McMillin (born and died 1878), Fred Hiett McMillin (1880 – 1922), and Paul Hiett McMillin (1886 – 1961), and their daughter Dorothy Hiett McMillin (1894 – 1980). Additionally, the cremated ashes of Adah Beeny (also spelled Ada Beane), [9] who served as a caretaker of the McMillin children [12] or as John S. McMillin's personal secretary, [9] are interred in John Hiett McMillin's crypt. [12]
![]() | |
| |
48°36′57″N 123°08′56″W / 48.615947°N 123.149003°W | |
Location | 664 Afterglow Dr, Friday Harbor, Washington, U.S. |
---|
Afterglow Vista (also known as the McMillin Memorial Mausoleum and Afterglow Mausoleum) is a mausoleum located in San Juan County, Washington, United States, near Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor. It is the final resting place of businessman John S. McMillin, his wife and children, [1] and one of the family's employees. The design of the mausoleum incorporates numerous instances of symbolism, some of it Masonic in nature. [2]
Afterglow Vista serves as the final resting place of John S. McMillin and several members of his family. During his life, McMillin was a lawyer, businessman and political figure. Born in Indiana in 1855, [3] [4] McMillin attended DePauw University, where he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, and served as the fraternity's first Grand Consul, or international president. [5] In 1884, McMillin moved with his wife and son from Indiana to Washington Territory, [4] where he became the owner of Tacoma and Roche Harbor Lime Company. [6] He was also an ardent Freemason. [7]
Six years before he died, McMillin ordered for Afterglow Vista to be built. [8] Construction was completed in 1936, the year of McMillin's death, and cost $30,000. [8]
The mausoleum is located in a wooded area, and can be accessed by following a trail through a set of gates topped with the words "Afterglow Vista". [9] [10]
The mausoleum itself consists of an open-air rotunda with a limestone table in its center. [1] Around the table are several stone chairs for each member of the McMillin family, inside each of which are hollow niches containing the cremated ashes of the family members. [1] [9] Inscribed on the backs of the chairs are the corresponding names of each individual. [9] There are numerous instances of Masonic symbolism incorporated into the mausoleum's design. [11] Surrounding the stone table and chairs are six columns, along with one intentionally broken column. [1] [9] The broken column is meant to symbolize the concept that "death breaks the column of any man's life", [9] [10] or alternately, to represent the idea of unfinished work in one's life. [11] The steps leading to the stone table and chairs represent "stages of life, orders in architecture, the human senses, and the liberal arts and sciences." [11]
Afterglow Vista has been called a "Masonic landmark". [12] The mausoleum's care is monitored by the Sigma Chi fraternity's Monuments and Memorials Commission. [12]
Afterglow Vista serves as the final resting place of John S. McMillin, his wife Louella Hiett, their sons John Hiett McMillin (born and died 1878), Fred Hiett McMillin (1880 – 1922), and Paul Hiett McMillin (1886 – 1961), and their daughter Dorothy Hiett McMillin (1894 – 1980). Additionally, the cremated ashes of Adah Beeny (also spelled Ada Beane), [9] who served as a caretaker of the McMillin children [12] or as John S. McMillin's personal secretary, [9] are interred in John Hiett McMillin's crypt. [12]