History
The Roche Harbor Yacht Club is an unincorporated. non-profit organization "which had Its origin about 1906" according to Reuben J. Tarte. It was he who had acquired all records of the Club in 1956 along with the properties of the Tacoma & Roche Harbor Lime Company. He wrote further that: 'In addition there were two excellent club rooms, one with a maple dance floor and stage, the other a projection room and a billiard table.'

Unfortunately, these club records are unavailable at present since they are buried among the accumulation of the Lime Company's business records. Thus, at best we have only sketchy knowledge of the Club's founding, development and activities prior to World War II. These must have been interesting years in this old Hudson's Bay Company post. However we consider 1906 our founding year.

If the exact date of its origin is hazy, there is no question as to the club's progenitor and guardian. John Stafford McMillin, general manager of the Tacoma Roche Harbor Lime Company (later the Roche Harbor Lime Cement Company), was its founder. He had established the town of Roche Harbor in 1886 - a true 'company town'. Both the town and the Club grew and flourished with the fortunes of the Company. The Company, and all three apparently were equally dependent upon the largess of John McMillin, reputed to have been a 'typical turn-of-the century tycoon'.

During these early years the Club functioned almost as an adjunct of the Lime Company. Until 1938 the Club's accounts were even maintained on the Company's books. Mr. McMillin, being a dedicated Freemason, emblazoned the Masonic Star of David upon the Roche Harbor Yacht Club's burgee, which was also the logo of the Company and could be found on each sack of lime shipped from the kilns.

The story of the McMillin family and of Roche Harbor has been told and retold. We merely note that in 1908 John S. McMillin was the Commodore of the Roche Harbor Yacht Club. This is established by the 1908 unpublished account, 'The Cruise of the Calcite'* written by the Seattle photographer John A. McCormick. The Calcite was McMillin's fifty-foot yacht, the Flagship of the Club, which in the Fall of 1908 undertook the first "Canadian 500" Cruise, photographed and chronicled by McCormick. The story is worth reading. However the Club's fortunes paralleled those of the Town, and the last known journal entry of the Club coincided with the closure of the Hotel de Haro in 1942.

The hiatus during the War years extended to the early 1950's followed by the reactivation of the Roche Harbor Yacht Club in 1957 by Reuben Tarte and his family. Mr. Tarte became the Commodore during the years 1957 and 1958. He writes of these years:

"The first Annual meeting of the reactivated Club was held on February 22,1957, at which time about 25 people joined the Club. During the summer and fall of 1957 about 75 more members were accepted. The Club joined the Puget Sound Interclub Association, and paid its entrance fee, and contributed $75 toward the Sunday and Holiday Custom Pool which the Interclub Association sponsors so that American and Canadian boats may enter at Roche Harbor and Friday Harbor without excessive cost during the yachting season."

Further, Commodore Tarte noted and commented upon a factor which was already becoming apparent and which played an important part in the Club's future:

"There are few local members who reside in the San Juan's. Most of the members reside at great distance from Roche Harbor. It is hoped that this situation will correct itself in the near future as it places considerable burden on our few local members. The Commodore is a part-time resident. We hope, at the Annual Meeting in February of 1959 to see many new faces."

The Roche Harbor Lime Cement Company continued to 'play host' to the Club, to furnish its quarters, and generally to lend support in many ways. Under Commodore Henry Shelly (1962 - 1963) the Club began to show signs of independence. It negotiated a lease with the Company, to pay rent, to refurbish the club rooms and to provide floats for visiting yachters. Gradually, however, there was a shifting of activities, particularly during the off-season, toward the Puget Sound area. Cruises and social functions became centered in Seattle where most of the officers and members resided. Although the club no longer maintains facilities other than an immensely popular outstations there, Roche Harbor remains the Club's spiritual home port. The club follows a fairly unique model, diligently avoiding the usual clubhouse and docks complex and focusing instead on an active cruising schedule during which members gather at harbors and marinas all over Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands.

While the absence of a clubhouse and docks seems strange to some, the advantage is a much reduced cost that allows us to maintain four outstations and reciprocal arrangements with other yacht clubs all of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. The Club remains an active force among the yacht clubs of the area with one of the most active cruising programs of any club in the region.

An accounting of our recent history would list these accomplishments:

1957 - Reactivation of the RHYC under Commodore Reuben Tarte

1962 - First Roster published. Leased & restoration of Club facilities at Roche Harbor under Commodore Henry Shelly.

1975 - Kingston our station established - Commodore Milt Larson

1997 - Roche Harbor Outstation established - Commodore Jeanette Hansson

2001 - Bremerton Reciprocal Dock Space established - Commodore Tony Piwowarski

2003 - Merger with Yarrow Bay YC & Fisherman Bay Outstation established - Commodore Lee Mattox

2005 - Overflow system at Roche Harbor outstation established - Commodore Doug Stewart

2007 - Dockstreet Marina Outstation established - Commodore Jim Matheson

*A memorandum to the members of the RHCY while he was Commodore.
Northwest Passages, (Vol.1). Bruce Calhoun, 1969, p.185,
Miller Freeman Publications, Inc. San Francisco, CA.