Passing of Claude McLean
One day this week, in Longview, Wash., they buried Claude McLean, and thus passed one of the great legendary figures of the timber. Thousands of loggers knew him as the dynamic boss-of-the-woods who had ran camps from the Lake States to Willapa harbor and Valsetz. Thousands more who never saw him knew his name, for in 1917 he invented the McLean boom, a notable advance in the technology of loading logs that was to place its inventor with the established immortals like Peavey, Dolbeer and Shay. More fir logs have been loaded with a McLean boom, these four decades, than all other methods put together.
Claude McLean even looked like a logger. Tall, lean, straight, he moved, even in later years, with the quick grace and assurance of a cat. He was of the old school, though not a bull-roarer. McLean was soft-spoken. It was best, however, to pay heed when he spoke for he was no man to bandy wordily about anything. He had come up through the ranks in the days when a woods boss had to be able, if need be, to lick any man in the crew.
Born in the classic old river town of Oconto, Wis., young McLean at fourteen had the lonely job of driving the sprinkling sled, from midnight till dawn, playing water on the road to freeze and make good sleighing for the tall, creeking* loads of white pine while, a cold moon lighted the way and owls gave mournful voice. At sixteen, peavey in hand, he was coming down with the drive. Up and down and across the Lake States he walked on the heaving sticks of a score of white-water streams, some that proved too swift for many a red-shirted lad.
In 1906 he packed his turkey and came to the Northwest. Here he had to start all over again, to learn the new technique of machines. He was soon foreman, then superintendent, an occupation he followed until retirement, having charge of some of the largest operations in the Douglas fir region, meanwhile devising his loading boom.
The boom is a proper enough monument for any logger. Yet those who knew him well need only their memories to recall the big- hearted, cantankerous, soft-hearted, quick- tempered Old Nestor of the timber. Possibly he was unique. In any case he was wonderful. The drive on Round river is now in good hands.
* The entries have been transcribed exactly from the original so that any misspelling or errors of a person's name, place name, date, or any other entry is intentional.
Brother of Mrs.
M. Ryan Dies
In Oregon
The following editorial appeared in the Portland Oregonian concerning Mr. McLean.
PASSING OF CLAUDE McLEAN
One day this week, in Longview, Wash., they buried Claude McLean and thus passed one of the great legendary figures of the timber. Thousands of loggers knew him as the dynamic boss-of-the-woods who had ran camps from the Lake States to Willapa harbor and Valsetz. Thousands more who never saw him knew his name, for in 1917 he invented the McLean boom, a notable advance in the technology of loading logs that was to place its inventor with the established immortals like Peavey, Dolbeer and Shay. More fir logs have been loaded with a McLean boom, these four decades, than all other methods put together.
Claude McLean even looked like a logger. Tall, lean, straight, he moved, even in later years, with the quick grace and assurance of a cat. He was of the old school, though not a bull-roarer. McLean was soft-spoken. It was best, however, to pay heed when he spoke for he was no man to bandy wordily about anything. He had come up through the ranks in the days when a woods boss had to be able, if need be, to lick any man in the crew.
Born in the classic old river town of Oconto, Wis., young McLean at fourteen had the lonely job of driving the sprinkling sled, from midnight till dawn, playing water on the road to freeze and make good sleighing for the tall, creaking loads of white pine, while a cold moon lighted the way and owls gave mournful voice. At sixteen, peavey in hand, he was coming down with the drive. Up and down and across the Lake States he walked on the heaving sticks of a score of white-water streams, some that proved too swift for many a red-shirted lad.
In 1906 he packed his turkey and came to the Northwest. Here he had to start all over again, to learn the new technique of machines. He was soon foreman, then superintendent, an occupation he followed until retirement, having charge of some of the largest operations in the Douglas fir region, meanwhile devising his loading boom.
The boom is a proper enough monument for any logger. Yet those who knew him well need only their memories to recall the big-hearted, cantankerous, soft-hearted, quick-tempered Old Nestor of the timber. Possibly he was unique. In any case he was won- derful. The drive on Round river is now in good hands.
* The entries have been transcribed exactly from the original so that any misspelling or errors of a person's name, place name, date, or any other entry is intentional.
This editorial states that Claude was buried in Seaside, Oregon and then just four lines later, reports: One day this week, in Longview, Wash., they buried Claude McLean.... He is indeed buried in Longview, Washington along with his wife