Fred MacLennan (d. 1928)
Fred MacLennan operated a hardware store at Bennet during the Klondike stampede and opened another store in Whitehorse in 1900. In 1901, he claimed to have thirty years in the hardware business. His stores supplied goods for homeowners and various trades like blacksmiths, steam engineers, painters, and boat builders. He was community minded, being the chair of the Whitehorse Hospital Society and giving goods as prizes during events. Michael Gates says he built a residence for his family on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Steele Street.1) Kim Hobus says the family house was constructed on Fourth and Main. Construction started in August and they moved in on 18 October 1902. The house was moved in 1969 to Mile 12 on the Carcross Road and at that time was owned by Mary Opal Greenlaw.2) The house was moved by Chuck Morgan of Morgan's Movers.3)
MacLennan's store was on Front Street, next to the post office, and south of Main Street.4) MacLennan operated his store on First [now Front] Street between Main and Lambert, from 1901, within ten days of the store being constructed, until May 1905 when the Front Street fire destroyed the business.5)
In July 1903, Fred MacLennan, a merchant living in Whitehorse, was awarded the contract to supply the North-West Mounted Police with general stores. This was a new system for awarding local contracts and was an improvement on the old method of receiving large consignments from outside the territory. The stores were purchased as needed and this did away with the need for the police to carry a large stock of imported goods.6) In 1905, the local contract for supplying provisions was awarded to Whitney & Pedler and Mr. H. F. Sieward. The beef contract went to Burns & Co. The police still received flour and butter from outside the territory. The contract for the supply of general stores was awarded to McLennan of White Horse.7)
Fred MacLennan was appointed the customs collector in Whitehorse in 1904. During the First World War he was the president of the local Red Cross office. His sons, Jack and Fred Jr. served overseas.8) MacLennan resigned his position as customs collector in June 1921 due to ill health. He died at his home in Vancouver.9)