Started by Dean Frey (Lopez Island Coffee Roasters)
Jan 26, 2021

Old Island Lore has it that in the late 1800's, a sailing vessel arrived at one of the bays below Turtleback Mountain on Orcas island.
Soon, an elderly Englishman was seen walking up the mountain, assisted by two strong and able men.
Legend has it that the elderly man was at one time, a young cabin boy on an English Sailing Ship. It was at that time that he witnessed a treasure chest being buried and left behind.

The treasure was never found and to this day still remains a mystery.

Question: Was it really Turtleback Mt on Orcas?
Could it of been Charnley* Island ?......

* Charnley Island, original name of Lopez Island.

Comment by Dean Frey (Lopez Island Coffee Roasters)
Jan 26, 2021

Povl,
Thanks for the correction, you are correct.
I attended Capt Wilkes Elementary, by the way...
Love the history of these islands.

Comment by Povl Lasbo
Jan 26, 2021

I believe that Lopez Island was the original name. Then along came the Wilkes Expedition (also known as the U.S. Ex. Ex.), around 1841. It surveyed and mapped the islands and assigned names, after themselves and those they wanted to curry favor with in Washington D.C.

Lopez Island became "Chaunceys Island" (not "Charnleys"), Orca ... Read All