The Ground Beneath Them Was Dry

The article recounts an investigation into a Calgary cemetery bench that sits precisely over two unmarked graves—Charles Tawse and May Swindells, both killed by lightning and interred in May 1915 in Block 12, Lots 1 and 2 of Union Cemetery's Section D. Using the City of Calgary's burial register and section plan, the author confirmed the bench's placement was deliberate, though it took nearly a year to identify who decided it. Environment Canada records show April 1915 was exceptionally dry (11.7 mm total) with a nearly 25-degree temperature swing on April 29, the day of the fatal storm. The Edmonton Daily Bulletin covered the event the following morning under the headline "HEAVY..." (the article cuts off mid-sentence). The piece blends historical detective work with archival research, and the key unresolved question—who placed the bench and why—remains the story to watch.