Highlights of History from The Whitehorse Star
The Whitehorse Pioneer Cemetery
Dateline: October 16, 2025.
December 20, 1876: Born at Pictou, Pictou, Nova Scotia; seventh child of Archibald Maclean and Margaret (Hanrahan) McLean.
ca. 1899: Came to the Yukon to work on the construction of the White Pass & Yukon Route railway.
June 18, 1904: Archie McLean and Fred Maclennan are developing a placer gold claim in the new Kluane district - No. 2a Above on Bullion Creek.
July 21, 1905: Archie McLean and Charley Goodell arrived from the Kluane country at 4 o'clock this morning, having walked all night. When seen at his cabin by a
Star representative this afternoon, Mr. McLean spoke very encouragingly of the prospects for considerable gold being taken from Burwash creek this season. Read the entire article here.
August 9, 1905: "Archie McLean went out on this morning's train to Windy Arm."
December 21, 1905: "Archie McLean is in town from Windy Arm where he and his partner, Archie Thompson, have completed a contract on some mine work. The two Archies
own some promising quartz property a few miles eastward from Whitehorse."
February 26, 1906: "Arthur Thompson returned today to Conrad where he, with his partner Archie McLean, have quartz interests which they are developing."
January 17, 1908: "Archie McLean came down from Conrad early this week and will remain in this locality the remainder of the winter. He says the 'white silence' of winter is very apparent around Conrad these days."
June 9, 1911: "Among the Carcrossites who attended the celebration last Saturday [the King's Birthday] were Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Stewart and two sons, Mrs. R. J. Brittain, Frank McPhee, Alf. Dixon, Leo Simmons, James Lauderdale, Carl Faulk and Archie McLean."
October 11, 1912: "Archie McLean went to Robinson a few days ago, where he met Mining Engineer Maclean whom he is accompanying in the capacity of guide through the Wheaton and Watson mining regions."
June 6, 1913: "Matthew Watson of Carcross, who had been here three weeks in the employ of the shipyards at sheet metal work, returned to his home Tuesday of this week to resume charge of his general merchandise store, which was looked after by Archie McLean during the owner's absence."
August 15, 1913: "Geologist T. A. McLean arrived in town from the Conrad country Monday evening and left on the Norcom for Dawson Wednesday. He is accompanied by his namesake, Archie McLean. They will be employed in the north end of the territory four or six weeks when they will return to the Wheaton to complete the season."
December 19, 1913: In a report on the new Chisana placer area: "No officials here yet, but everything very orderly. Tom and Archie McLean were here about six days ago
for a few hours. Archie patronized the barber (lady) to the extent of $2.50 the regular price for a shave and hair cut at the only shop in town. I would not advise anyone to come
here before March unless they come with a good outfit to go prospecting on their own account."
January 2, 1914: "T. A. McLean of the Canadian government mineralogy department, and Archie McLean of Carcross came in from the White river country on Sunday where they have been working during the past few months."
January 9, 1914: "Archie McLean who has been assisting T. A. McLean during the past season returned to his home at Carcross last Friday."
The Whitehorse Star - Friday, February 20, 1914
Archie McLean has been appointed to the office of mining recorder at Carcross, relieving Percy Reid who was last fall instructed that he was transferred to the Immigration department at Ottawa. Mr. Reid expected to get away last November but was continued at Carcross until his successor was selected, the appointment being made on recommendation of Dr. Alfred Thomson, M. P. for Yukon.
The new mining recorder, Mr McLean, hails originally from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, but has been in Yukon for fifteen years, nearly all of which has been spent in the Southern portion of the territory. He is an experienced miner as well as a capable
and competent man. He is wellknown and very popular and will make an excellent official.
Mr. McLean has already taken charge of the office at Carcross ard Mr.
Reid, who arrived on the train Tuesday evening, will get away at an early date for the east. His wife and two little sons have been in Toronto since last fall. Mr. Reid has been in Southern Yukon for the past ten years as mining recorder at Kluane, Conrad and Carcross. For the past year or more he has also been game warden and railroad inspector, the latter position being in connection with the Dominion Railway Commission. He will leave many friends in Yukon who will wish him success in his new field.
August 6, 1915: "Mining Recorder Archie McLean of Carcross spent Sunday in town. For his sake, it was regretted that there was no moving picture show Saturday night."
August 13, 1915: "As one by one the single men of Carcross are drifting into the state of matrimony, Mining Recorder Archie McLean is assuming a pensive expression. He has a comfortable residence, too."
November 5, 1915: In a lengthy list of people subscribing to the I.O.D.E.'s Canadian Soldiers' Disablement Fund, Archie is reported to donate $10 each month.
December 3, 1915: "Archie McLean, mining recorder at Carcross, was among the outsiders who were amazed at the array of talent displayed at the heather entertainment at the hall Tuesday night. He will return today. He was not successful in his efforts to have the entertainment reproduced at Carcross."
June 9, 1916: Fifteen more men from the southern Yukon have offered to join the Black Contingent: from Whitehorse - S. Coulter, T. J. Curran, E. A. Dixon, W. F. Watson, J. Hopkins, F. Ramsey. From Carcross - Aubrey Simmons, Archie McLean, Fred Maclennan, Jr., Frank P. Thorn, Wm. Rhodes. From Carmacks - Fred Armand. From Grafter Mine - W. Hutchinson. From Tagish - Alf Dixon. From Atlin - D. J. Holland.
July 28, 1916: When the deck hands and waiters on the steamer Dawson went on strike for higher wages when it arrived at Whitehorse, Archie mcLean was among the men who took over deck hand positions to get her to Dawson with the Minister of the Interior, the Yukon's M.P., and a group of tourists on board.
October 10, 1916: Archie McLean officially applies to join the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force (CEF). Click to enlarge the attestation paper seen to the right, in a new window.
October 13, 1916: Archie McLean was one of the 24 guests of honor at a smoker given at Moose hall last night in honor of the Southern Yukon aud Northern British Columbia boys who have enlisted in the Black contingent for overseas service.
October 27, 1916: Archie McLean donated a gold watch to the I.O.D.E. bazaar that was held on October 25th.
February 2, 1917: "The mining recorders' offices at Carcross and Silver have both been abolished. Since the departure for the front of Deputy Mining Recorder Archie
McLean of Carcross, Matthew Watson, up to the Ist of January, acted as agent there. The records of the Carcross office have since that date, however, been transferred to Whitehorse."
April 26, 1918: "Writing to Manager J. C. Newmarch of the Whitehorse branch of the Canadian Bank of Commerce from England, under date of March 12, Archie McLean, former deputy mining recorder at Carcross, says that Lieut. E. A. Dixon of this place, who left
here with the Yukon Infantry Co., a year ago, had been in the hospital and would be invalided home soon. Mr. McLean also stated that the Yukon company would shortly leave England for the western front under command of Capt. Black."
February 7, 1919: "According to word received here recently a number of the
Southern Yukon boys are with the Canadian army of occupation in Germany. Among them are Archie McLean of Carcross and Jack French, Sam Couiter, and several others from Whitehorse whose names we disremember. Sam Ryder of Chilliwack, B. C., eldest son of Roland Ryder of this place, is also with them."
July 18, 1919: "Archie McLean, former mining recorder at Carcross, but who resigned his position in order that he might lend his aid overseas in the defense of King and country, arrived back home Wednesday night. His record as a soldier, like those of all the other boys who went from the Yukon, is a credit not only to himself but to the great inland empire in which he has cast his lot."
August 1, 1919: "The people of Carcross will give a reception at the Caribou hotel tonight in honor of Archie McLean, one of the Southern Yukon boys who recently returned from overseas."
January 23, 1920: "Archie McLean of Carcross, returning officer for Whitehorse
district in the approaching election of members for the new Yukon Council, arrived in town on Tuesday night's train for the purpose of making the preliminary arrangements for nomination day, Monday, Jan. 26."
1931 federal census: Archie is living in a 2-room house at Carcross with a value of $300. It has no radio.
November 9, 1934: "Archie McLean of Carcross, who was admitted to the hospital on October 10, is still under treatment here."
The Whitehorse Star - Friday, November 30, 1934
There passed to his rest on November 22nd another old timer of the district in the person of Archibald McLean of Carcross.
Born in Antigonish Nova Scotia 55 years ago, deceased came to the Yukon in the early days of the gold rush, working on the construction of the White Pass & Yukon Railroad and afterwards following prospecting. He made his headquarters at Carcross.
During the Great War he went overseas with the Yukon Infantry Company and saw service in France with the 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade. After demobilization deceased visited for a while at his old home in Antigonish, returning eventually to Carcross, where he resided until his death.
"Archie," as he was known to his wide circle of friends was of a kindly
disposition, loyal to his friends and comrades and loved by all children. His kindness of dumb animals endeared him to a host of canine friends.
Funeral services for the deceased were held on Monday afternoon, the
burial service being conducted by Rev. Father Gallant of Skagway. The pall bearers were: P. Martin, G. Wilson, L. Higgins, J. E. French, F. Wilson and R. Earl. Interment was in the Whitehorse Cemetery.
Left to mourn his loss is a sister in Pictou, Nova Scotia, and a host
of friends and comrades in Yukon.
The exact location of Archie McLean's grave in what is now known as the Pioneer Cemetery, is not known.
