File:Medical Examiner's office.jpg

Summary

The Medical Examiner's office

The picture shows the inside of the Brunswick Railroad YMCA - the east wing, the part that burned down many years before the main building burned.

This is the office of the railroad Medical Examiner, Dr. Ward (on the left). No match for the doctor in dignity or sartorial splendor, on the right is his clerk "Uncle Joe Kraus".

The picture was taken about 1924. On the desk is the usual "black bag" that wen everywhere with the doctor; on the wall behind him is his black hat (perhaps a derby?). The month on the calendar is June; the year is probably 1924.

The doctor is wearing a hard collar. You can see the cuff links, and the formal cravat. His shoes were well shined. (Why, with a this formality, did he need the rubber stamps on his desk? But his clerk had more of them.)

Whereas the doctor was writing, Uncle Joe was quite properly reading. No tie; note the calluses, shirt sleeve holder, buttoned sleeves - if he was no match for the doctor, it was because he was supposed to be. He probably did have with him a coat and tie, perhaps on the wall by his side.

Jim McMurry recalls that the office was part of the hospital. It was open only from time to time as needed, when for instance there was an accident on the railroad.

(Courtesy of Kim Myers; photo & information from the Brunswick Citizen)