Henry and Ada McCleary: The Founders

In 1898, Henry McCleary saw the incredible potential of the forests in Grays Harbor County. He didn’t just build a sawmill; he built a world-class industry and a town to support it.

• The Door Capital of the World: Under Henry’s leadership, the McCleary mill became the largest door manufacturer on earth. In 1923 alone, the dedicated local workforce produced over 300,000 doors in just sixty days!

• The Railroad Connection: To move all those doors, the town relied on the Northern Pacific Railroad. This connection turned a remote logging camp into a global shipping hub, linking McCleary’s timber to the rest of the world.

• Ada’s Heart for People: While Henry focused on the mill, Ada McCleary focused on the soul of the town. She started our first library and founded the Women’s Aid Society.

• A Strong Philosophy: Henry was a firm leader who believed in “enlightened self-interest.” He provided homes and electricity for his workers decades before many other towns had them. While he preferred to manage the town’s affairs personally rather than through unions, his primary goal was always the success and stability of the McCleary enterprise.

The McCleary Hotel: A Historic Showpiece

Built in 1912, the McCleary Hotel was the crown jewel of the town. While it was a beautiful place to stay, it was actually a brilliant sales tool for Henry McCleary’s lumber mill.

A “Living Showroom”

Henry didn’t just build a hotel; he built a way to sell his wood.

• Douglas Fir Details: Every door, window, and grand staircase was made from high-quality Douglas Fir milled right here in town.

• Modern Luxury: It was the first building in the area with full electric lighting, showing buyers that McCleary was a modern, successful place.

• The Sales Strategy: Traveling buyers stayed in the hotel to experience the quality of the wood firsthand before placing large orders for the mill.

Ada McCleary’s Touch

While Henry focused on the lumber, Ada McCleary focused on the hospitality. She managed every detail, from the architectural layout to the silverware. She wanted a grand space where the company could host business leaders and local social events with pride.

The Hotel Today

In 1941, the hotel was sold to the Simpson Timber Company along with the rest of the town. Today, it is a Historic Boutique Hotel open to the public. The current restoration focuses on “preservation over reinvention,” keeping the original 1912 details alive for a new generation of travelers.

Learn more or book a stay: The McCleary Hotel | Historic Boutique Hotel in McCleary, WA

The Simpson Era and the Birth of a City

The transition from a privately owned town to the independent City of McCleary is one of the most exciting chapters in our history. It was a journey of hard work, negotiation, and community pride.

The Midnight Deadline

By 1941, Henry McCleary was 80 years old and ready to retire. The Simpson Logging Company in nearby Shelton was eager to buy his mills to grow their business, but there was a catch. Henry didn’t just want to sell the factories—he wanted to sell the entire town, including the houses, streets, and utilities.

Negotiations lasted for months. Finally, Henry set a strict deadline: reach a deal by midnight on December 31, 1941, or he would close everything down. Just one hour before the deadline, at 11:00 p.m., an agreement was reached. On New Year’s Day, a notice was posted on the office door telling the worried residents that the sale was final and they should “continue working as usual.”

An Old Town Renewed

When Simpson took over, they became the “landlords” of about 300 families. At the time, the town was in rough shape and desperately needed repairs to the water, power, and roads.

To fix this, Simpson encouraged the citizens to incorporate—which means forming their own local government. This allowed the people to run the city’s business while Simpson focused on the mills and providing jobs.

• The First Election: On December 5, 1942, voters elected Lee Wills as the first Mayor, along with a treasurer and five councilmen.

• Becoming a City: On January 9, 1944, McCleary was officially incorporated as a city in the State of Washington with about 1,200 residents.

The Mill Today

The legacy of that 1941 deal lives on today. The Simpson Door Company is one of the oldest continuously operating door plants in the United States. It remains our city’s main industry and largest employer, with about 350 workers.

Beyond being a business leader, Simpson continues to be a generous supporter of the McCleary Museum & Event Center, helping us keep these stories alive for future generations.