100 years ago
Pioneer passes away
John Gardner Deans, 63, the first Caucasian man to marry in Calgary, passed away.
Deans was born in Glasgow, Scotland on March 27, 1852 and immigrated to Ontario in 1876, where he met Mary Miers. The couple was married in Calgary in 1883, becoming the first Caucasian couple to be married in that city.
50 years ago
Water well clogged with “organic matter”
Town council was told that one of its water wells contained organic matter, consisting of sulphur and iron “which unless controlled, could cause a problem of plugged water meters, black or rust-coloured stains on clothing, and also reduce the carrying capacity of the mains,” according to the Olds Gazette.
Town councillors were told chlorinating the water would solve that problem, so the town's utilities committee was asked to look into buying a chlorinator for the Olds water supply.
25 years ago
Four-time Calgary Road Race winner passes on
Four-time winner of the Calgary Herald Road Race Jack Ross passed away.
Ross took first place in that race four times between 1916 and 1923, winning it three times in a row at one point.
Ross was born in Golanfield, Inverness-shire, Scotland. He moved to Canada in 1906, settling in Olds, where he worked as a clerk for various general stores for 61 years.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge for 53 years, serving as secretary for 34 years.
