Early Ambulance Service
On May 14, 1969, John Burkmyre, a Henry Ford Hospital ambulance driver retired after fifty years of service to the institution. At the time of his retirement, Burkmyre was supervisor of the hospital's Service Garage, but his early years were filled with adventures driving a Model T Ford to pick up payroll, pick up celebrities, and make wild emergency runs to the local industrial plants. Burkmyre met many famous people including the Ford family, Harvey Firestone, Admiral Byrd, and Mickey Cochrane. He also delivered Christmas gifts of automobiles from Henry Ford to the hospital's top physicians such as Dr. Frank J. Sladen, Dr. J.P. Pratt, and Dr. Roy D. McClure. Tied with red holiday bows, the cars were Stanley Steamers, Franklins, and later, Lincolns.
Burkmyre began his career as a mule driver with a Michigan Avenue teamster firm and then went to work for the Dearborn Realty and Construction Company, a company started by Henry Ford to apply factory production to building projects. In 1919, the company was assigned to complete some work on the hospital and Burkmyre was transferred to work on the plumbing and electrical installations. He was one of a few staff members who knew how to drive, so he was tasked to a lawn cutting machine powered by a four-cylinder Continental motor and then later assigned to driving the ambulances.
Reminiscing at his retirement party, Burkmyre talked of his early days at the hospital, "In the old days, you asked for work and got it. You were expected to do your best, no matter what position you were in. Why, we scrubbed down the garage every night, put pans under all of the cars, and painted all the corners white to make sure they were clean. There were no odors, litter, or smoking allowed."
The Henry Ford Hospital ambulance driver, John Burkmyre, with the hospital ambulance, c.1923. From the Conrad R. Lam Collection, Henry Ford Health System.