Historical Commission in Search of Wagons

Jared B. McLane was a pretty big deal in his day and you likely drive past his house and former factory location on a weekly (if not daily) basis. 

McLane started the McLane Wagon Factory behind his house at 148 Park St. (the white building next to the police station) about 1887.

In preparation for the town’s tercentennial in 2013, local historians are hoping to give a tip of the hat to McLane and his wagons.

“One of the things that I would like to see is how many of these McLean wagons are still around,” said Young.

Young is hoping people in the area have some of these old wagons that they can show North Reading historians. They, in turn, can take photos and take note of the wagons, their locations and conditions.

McLane was born in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, in 1853, and moved to North Reading about 1873. He lived not too far from what is now the . He began selling wagons to people throughout the region and ultimately across the country, according to the Historical Commission’s blog North Reading History.

McLane employed about 50 workers on average, including cabinet makers, blacksmiths, sign painters and carpenters at his Park Street business, which sold commercial wagons, sleds and parts for replacement and repairs.

North Reading purchased one of the first wagons, which was a patrol wagon used by Constable Henry Dane, according to the blog.

McLane was a well known North Reading resident. In addition to owning likely the largest business in town, McLane was a charter member of the Board of Fire Engineers (the town fire department), was on the committee that oversaw the construction of the first Batchelder School, was a director of the First National Bank of Reading and was a state representative serving North Reading, Reading, Woburn, Wilmington and Burlington, according to the blog.

McLane died in 1917 and 11 years later, a fire destroyed his factory.

Young has never seen a McLane wagon and is not sure if there are even any wagons still around, but he’s hopeful that the Historical Commission can track down some of the town’s history in preparation for 2013.

“I’m hoping there are some stories about the wagons that they have, family lore and history and so forth,” said Young.

If you have one of these wagons or have more information, contact Keith Young at keitheyoung@live.com.