File:Dr. Charles E. Pruitt, M.D..jpg

Summary

As Dr. J.G.F. Smith wound down his practice, Dr. Charles E. Pruitt, M.D. became Brunswick's primary physicial for much of the 1950s and '60s. A Purple Heart recipient during his time as a Navy Flight surgeon in the Pacific theater where among other duties, he helped evacuate American servicemen after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he moved his family of four to Brunswick in 1947.

Since Brunswick was short on space for doctors, Dr. Pruitt renovated the old synagogue on A Street for his original office. He later moved to the bottom floor of the Feete Building on Petersville Road and finally, his home on Rosemont. Dr. Pruitt was known as an excellent diagnostician, made house calls, delivered many babies and donated his services to the Girl Scouts of Brunswick. He was one of the first local doctors to administer the revolutionary Salk polio vaccine around the surrounding area in the mid-1950s.

The good doctor was also known for his flashy cars, including a 1956 Thunderbird and several Corvette Stingrays in the '60s. Betty Lou Cavalier recounted this story:

"He was probably the first person in Brunswick to own such a luxurious contraption. He had a lot of fun in that car. I remember he picked up my dad on the Square Corner one day. He said 'Come on, Lute. Let's go down to the Moose.' When dad got home that evening, my father had lost his hat and he swore he'd never get in that car with Charlie Pruitt again!"

Who here was delivered into the world by Dr. Pruitt?

(Photo and information courtesy of the City of Brunswick, MD History Commission)