McLachlan Bench Dedicated at Deer Harbor

Cal McLachlan at the Deer Harbor Community Center event honoring his family.

Orcas Island Pioneer Family Honored

Contributed by Clay Parsons

On Sunday afternoon, December 12^th, a six-foot long, custom designed cedar bench was officially dedicated by the Deer Harbor Community Club in honor of the many contributions to the community of long-time residents Clarena and Cal McLachlan.

When it is installed, the bench will be located adjacent to the western wall of the Post Office building overlooking Deer Harbor Marina. A small bronze plaque on the bench reads  “ In Honor of Clarena and Cal McLachlan, Deer Harbor Community Club, September, 2010.”

The McLachlan Family arrived on Orcas Island in 1887 when Robert and Olive McLachlan moved from Victoria, BC to Deer Harbor to be with Olive’s Family, the Cadwells. They have been here ever since.

Robert and Olive McLachlan had three children, one of them Cal’s father Bill. Bill married Edith Lehmann in 1916 and moved to the family’s homestead at Pole Pass. They had one child, Cal. Cal married Clarena in 1950.

They have three daughters, Cheryl McLachlan, Mary Carr, Jill Standeford and one granddaughter, Janelle Standeford. All three daughters and their granddaughter attended the dedication ceremony on Sunday.

Clarena McLachlan passed away in March of this year. She was the heart and soul of the Deer Harbor Community Club for many years and will be sorely missed.

Speakers at the dedication ceremony which was held at the Deer Harbor Community Club included Deer Harbor residents Marion Goheen, Craig Carpenter, Bill Gropper and Mike Speece. Clay Parsons, a member of the Deer Harbor Community Club Board of Directors, was the MC. Many residents of the Deer Harbor and greater Orcas Island community attended the dedication.