The McLean house was built in 1927 by Dr. Edward McLean for his family. Dr. McLean and his wife Anne helped design and build this lovely modified colonial style, three-story home to suit the needs of their growing family. It included seventeen rooms, a full basement and attic, two fire places, and three full baths.

The home was built with the finest the 1920's had to offer, including handcrafted woodwork, sculptured wallpaper, charming fixtures, spacious bedrooms, a sun drenched conservatory and a complete kitchen. The main stairway, including balustrade, doors, windows, sills, and all moldings are of native walnut.

The site McLean chose for the home borders the beautiful Willamette River, looking across towards Oregon City. The four acre site was purchased in 1922 from the Moody Investment Company by McLean and was developed into an arboretum of grand trees, shrubs, a vegetable and flower garden, tennis court, pony barn, and plenty of room for mischief and exploring by the McLean children and their friends. Anne McLean was an eager participant in a variety of family and community endeavors, and she particularly enjoyed her rose garden.

Today, the Giant Sequoias stand where the vegetable garden once was (see photo at right). Of the orginial 4 acre site, 2.4 acres remain after the construction of the George Abernathy Bridge.

About Dr. Edward McLean

Dr. Edward H. McLean served individuals and families in the Clackamas County area as their "country doctor," traveling from home to home checking on expectant mothers, delivering babies, following up on broken bone patients, and surgeries.

Dr. McLean initially served with Dr. Mount in Oregon City from 1919 to 1921 before starting his own solo practice. In 1936 the first phase of the McLean Clinic on the corner of Seventh and High Streets in Oregon City was completed. In 1938 he helped found the Physicians Association of Clackamas County (P.A.C.C.), the first physician sponsored prepaid plan in the U.S.A., which led to formation of the Oregon Physician Service (O. P. S.).

Dr. McLean is remembered professionally as a compassionate man who, not only was a fine doctor, but a teacher and a researcher, especially in the field of communicable disease. He was also an innovator in the organization of health care and financial aid for medical students through the American Medical Association.

Architectural rendering of McLean House from the period of its construction.

Historical photo of McLean house with vegetable garden in the foreground

Edward and Anne McLean

Historical photos courtesy of the Edward
and June McLean Family, 1995.