Dear Editor:
Loved the article about Jack MacDonald and his generosity to Elora. I had the good fortune to meet Jack and Mary when they visited the village for the grand opening of the municipal centre. They were wonderful people. Jack was warm and friendly and Mary was outrageously outgoing. She had lots of bawdy tales about mad runs to Las Vegas during prohibition.
And Jack fully explained to me the odd circumstance that led to his generosity to the village. He basically paid for the Elora arena when the old one was condemned as unusable. Jack had never before set foot in Elora, but his father had, and remembered the village fondly. Jack said his elderly dad told him to “do something nice for Elora.” Jack’s reply, which I remember to this day, was “Why didn’t you do something?” Jack sent, I believe, $10,000 (U.S.) a year for a number of years, and told me he would have been more generous had the American tax laws allowed.
I think his will and bequest demonstrate that he wasn’t just talking.
I was amazed to watch two multi-millionaires out talking to complete strangers and feeling right at home. I also got to see their amazement the day they left the Elora Mill Inn. They went for their bill and were shocked to learn it had been covered by Elora village.
A statue for Jack is a must, and I wouldn’t mind seeing one of Mary with him if this pandemic ever ends.
David Meyer,
Chatham