October 14-20

We returned from our break on Sunday. Jacob and Spencer took care of camp while we were gone. Upon our return we learned that while we were gone, there had been some interesting correspondence touching on Indralaya’s early history. Frederick McClaren’s granddaughter, Diane Schubring, had contacted the Orcas Island Community Foundation and they had forwarded her email to Helen Bee.

In the 1920s, McClaren was loosely involved with the Theosophical Society in Seattle through his friendship with Webster Shepard, who used to sail up Eastsound and moor his boat in Judd Cove below the McClaren farm. Shepard mentioned to McClaren that there was a group of local theosophists who were interested in holding a summer gathering of theosophists. He offered his farm on Orcas for the gathering and the first ‘camp’ was held in the summer of 1927. This first camp was very successful, with around 45 people attending, so the group of theosophists who had spearheaded the whole venture negotiated an agreement with the McClaren’s that involved the payment of back taxes and other considerations in return for which the property was turned over to the newly-formed Orcas Island Foundation.

Frederick McClaren

Following up on this initial contact, Diane posted several interesting historic photos on the Indralaya facebook page, a couple of which are posted below.

An early picture of the tree at Madrona Point, looking NE towards Buck Mountain. 

Today

The stone table that now resides below the dining hall near the labyrinth.

As already mentioned, there are several more photos that Diane posted on the Indralaya facebook, including some interesting shots taken from the top of Lookout Mountain looking down on the property.