McKEAN, Adam (1822-1909), a native of Durham, England, was active in Pictou, Nova Scotia from c. 1860 until his death there in late 1909. His name appears in an advertisement in the Nova Scotia Directory, 1864-65, 621, where he described his services as an architect and builder, offering “Plans and Specifications for Churches, Cottages, School Houses, etc. prepared…..and Contracts for Buildings taken on short notice”.
By 1879 he was joined by his son Albert in the new firm of “Adam McKean & Sons, Architects & Builders, Chapman Street, Pictou” (Teare’s Directory of Pictou, 1879-80, 64; advert. 49). Together, they also operated the Belleville Free Stone Quarry, supplying building stone for architectural projects in and around Pictou. Several original drawings signed by McKean have survived, and reveal him to be a capable designer and a competent delineator, well-versed in the fashionable styles of the day. His drawing for “Seabank”, c. 1865, at Pictou is a particularly impressive essay in the Gothic Revival style, and may have been inspired by, or influenced by, the designs of the Halifax architect David Stirling, who lived and worked in Pictou from 1855 to 1857.
McKean died in Pictou on 27 December 1909 (obit. Pictou Advocate, 1 Jan. 1910; biog. M. Rosinski, Architects of Nova Scotia: A Biographical Dictionary 1605-1950, 1994, 131; inf. Garry Shutlak, Halifax). His second son was Melville McKean, who also worked as an architect.
PICTOU, N.S., “Seabank”, a residence for Mr. Grant, c. 1865 (signed dwgs. at PANS)
TATAMAGOUCHE, N.S., residence for Dr. E.D. Roach, 1866 (signed dwgs. at PANS)
NEW GLASGOW, N.S., residence for Isaac Matheson, 1873 (E. Pacey & A. Comiter, Landmarks: Historic Buildings of Nova Scotia, 1994, 172-74, illus.)
PICTOU, N.S., Young Men’s Christian Association, Water Street, 1877-78 (Colonial Standard [Pictou], 30 April 1878, 3)
PICTOU, N.S., a new Academy Building, 1879 (Colonial Standard [Pictou], 1 July 1879, 3)