The historical recognition of the McLean House, crucial to the establishment of early prepaid healthcare in Oregon, has officially been recognized by the National Park Service as it's been listed in the National Register of Historic Places, as reported by Oregon's State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP). The Dr. Edward and Anne McLean House, nestled on the southern edge of the Willamette River in West Linn's Bolton Neighborhood, was constructed in 1927 by the Henderson-Bankus Company and stands today as a representative of the Colonial Revival architecture with a side-gabled form, multilight wood windows, and English Cottage-inspired features.
Its significance, however, lies not merely in its architectural merit but also in its role in the inception of the Physicians' Association of Clackamas County (PACC) by Dr. Edward McLean, who worked collaboratively with Drs. William O. Steele and Jack G.P. Cleland from his home office in the house during the tumultuous times of the Great Depression, laid down the early framework of a prepaid healthcare system this HMO-like organization aimed at making healthcare accessible by providing quality, and affordability, designed to meet the unique requirements of the local residents particularly those working in the mills, alongside their families.
The property, which has been under the jurisdiction of the City of West Linn since 1969, also finds a place in the West Linn Historic Inventory, and its recent induction into the National Register further represents its importance not only as a local but also as a state and national level such properties are acknowledged in planning federal projects, become eligible for federal tax benefits, may receive historic preservation grants, experience some leniency in building codes, and are subject to protection under local conservation laws.
Announcements by the National Park Service's National Register recognize these historic places are heritage milestones, and the McLean House's listing can be found detailed online at Oregon Heritage's website, where the public can learn about other recent Oregon listings and the process of historic designation for those interested in preserving and acknowledging the structures that contribute to the nation's cultural narrative.
