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Summary

J.E. "Ed" Moore worked in his jewelry store in Brunswick. After he lost both legs in a railroad accident in 1921 while working on the Eastbound hump, he became the town's official B&O watch inspector.

As part of the settlement for the accident, the B&O sent him to watchmaker's school. When he returned to Brunswick, he took over F.E. Alder's jewelry store located at 5 W. Potomac Street, according to a 1924 directory. He later moved to 17 W. Potomac Street when Matthews Candy Store closed. His last location was at 109 E. Potomac Street until he went out of business in 1941 or 1942.

Known as "Mr. Ed," he gave a watch to one lucky boy and one lucky girl every year at Brunswick High School graduation.

As an interesting backstory, the famous hobo artist Frank Feather. found his brakeman's club on the tracks after the accident. He kept it for five years, carving details of the accident into it. The hobo returned to Brunswick to find a family member to give it to, not knowing that Moore was still alive. "It cost him a sandwich and cup of coffee to get that club back," wrote his daughter Eleanora Russell.

Steve Moore The day of the accident, as our dad told it, happened on the hill in the car yard. Our grandfather was uncoupling train cars and fell under on the tracks. Since his legs were crushed off, he wasn't really bleeding much. They say he was lying on the ground conscious and they laid his legs across him. A railroader ran from the car yard to New York Hill to get a guy that had a flat bed truck to take him to the hospital. Yes, I have his brake men's club.

My grandfather was a tough guy. He had like half of his 12 kids after his accident. My father told us that he kept his socks up with thumbtacks. The hobo was the famous hobo artist Frank Feather.

Debbie Brawner This was my grandfather. Thanks for sharing this story of him. He had 12 children, my mother Eleanora Russell was the baby of the 12.

(Photo and information courtesy of the Brunswick Citizen)