How McLean Auctions came to be...

Orval McLean was born in 1931 in the small hamlet of Bexley, in the Kawartha Lakes

and spent most of his youth growing up in Cannington, Ontario. It was there that

he spread his wings playing hockey, playing in a band and met the love of his life

Masie, at the age of 17. During his senior years at the Cannington Continuation School, Orval began taking on many jobs including cutting grass, delivering bread, chauffeuring, many farm duties and working overnights at Bell Canada. His hard work began to pay off after he graduated and became a salesman and later a manager for Singer Sewing Machines in Lindsay. It was there that his knack for sales began and he eventually purchased Midtown Furniture in 1956 where he expanded to include sportswear and then Skidoos. Midtown Furniture became Midtown Mattress which he operated for over 50 years on William Street in Lindsay. In 1960, Orval was given the opportunity to try his hand as an auctioneer and he was a natural. He began making a name for himself all throughout the Kawartha Lakes and beyond selling many estates, cars, livestock and real estate through the years

After purchasing a farm on Little Britain Rd. just outside of Lindsay, Orval began

operating McLean Auctions out of the old livestock barn and eventually built a

second building on the property as well as running an auction house in

Peterborough. Following in his father's footsteps Barry McLean worked hard

growing up in his family's auction business and in 1970 graduated from lowa

Auction School. He began his career as an auctioneer which he continues today

as well as being a real estate agent. With the changing market and the introduction

of online sales, McLean Auctions held its first ever online auction in 2011 with great

success. This created new options for people to stay in the comfort of their homes

and for Mclean's to reach a much wider audience with the ability to ship items

within Canada and the United States.  In 2015 the McLeans obtained a second

location but sadly in 2016 the original barn succumbed to a devastating fire. After

\the terrible event the McLeans pulled together and have continued on in the auctioneering business where you'll find them today in the red barn at 2140 Little Britain Rd.