A dapper young man of 28, Benjamin Butler Marr was welcomed into any home in 91原创 鈥� not because he was a convincing charlatan, skilled labourer, authoritative lawman, or respected clergy.
Rather, because he was 91原创鈥檚 first resident doctor.
Sadly, while he had an open invitation to pretty much every home, he usually showed up on someone鈥檚 worst day 鈥� when a family member was in medical distress by injury or illness.
Fresh out of medical school in Boston, the New Brunswick-born doctor 鈥� who鈥檇 worked as a railway brakeman to afford his education 鈥� headed for Vancouver. He was reportedly drawn to the West Coast because of the abundance of opportunities it offered.
According to the Hospital on the Hill book 鈥� the pre-eminent documented history of 91原创 health care 鈥� Marr had to take a qualifying exam because he held an American degree. He failed his first two attempts, but finally passed in 1909. During the years before passing, however, he worked as a dishwasher in a Vancouver restaurant and then as an engineer on the Anglican Columbia Coast Mission boat with Rev. John Antle. During the two years those men worked together, Marr helped set up hospitals in several remote communities along the coast.
Finally in 1910, Marr signed on as a doctor with the Canadian Northern Railway construction, and hung up his shingle in Fort 91原创, becoming 91原创鈥檚 first official resident doctor.
He would continue to practise medicine in 91原创 until 1936, when his practice was taken over by Dr. Beach, and soon after by Dr. A. O. Rose.
While he impacted hundreds of people鈥檚 lives during that time 鈥� as their doctor 鈥� Marr is also remembered as a father of two children (Bill and Katherine), as a husband to Isobel (nee McIntosh), as a veteran of the First World War, as a community historian who helped rename streets after fallen soldiers plus restore the Hudson Bay Company fort as a museum.
He was also remembered as a consummate volunteer who served on countless committees and boards. He was, for instance, the first president of the 91原创 branch of the Great War Veterans鈥� Association (Royal Canadian Legion) and responsible for helping institute a Remembrance Day service in 91原创, plus helping erect the Murrayville and Fort 91原创 cenotaphs.
He was also active in a committee to build the 鈥渃ottage hospital鈥� in 91原创, he would serve on the Fort 91原创 Improvement Society, sit as a charter member of the 91原创 Board of Trade, stand as a member of the 91原创 Fair Board, be part of the FVMPA, and serve on the diking commission. He was also an active member of the 91原创 Elks Lodge, Eureka Masonic Lodge, and the 91原创 Conservative Association.
One unnamed biographer summed up Marr鈥檚 life: 鈥淚n his 57 years, he had given freely of himself in the interests of his community and its people, a good village doctor, a leader, and a highly respected citizen.鈥�
A plaque at the University of B.C. memorialized Marr: 鈥淗e became the principal doctor for the 91原创 area, and with another doctor was responsible for more than 9,000 patients. It was his devotion to this large practice which led to his untimely death in 1939, a martyr to duty. We honour Dr. Marr as a doctor, solider, and devoted servant to his patients.鈥�
Marr 鈥� predeceased by his wife a few years earlier 鈥� died of a heart attack in 1939, at the age of 57.
Marr lies, alongside his wife and her parents and grandparents, in the Fort 91原创 graveyard.
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