LIVERMORE FALLS — The town is looking for the oldest resident to recognize with an honorary presentation of the Boston Post Cane.
The late Lois Moulton was presented with the cane in 2009 at Pinewood Terrace, an assisted living center, in Farmington at age 99. She died in October at the age of 104.
Town Manager Kristal Flagg told selectmen Tuesday that the town’s Boston Post Cane had been returned.
They are looking for the oldest resident of the town, she said.
Some towns are not giving the cane to the oldest resident of the town but are recognizing the resident in other ways, including an honorary presentation, she said.
Some towns honor the person with a certificate and a cake, recognizing them as the oldest resident of the town.
Selectman Ron Chadwick said that he knows of one town that gives the resident a plaque.
Jay’s original Boston Post Cane is displayed in a case in the selectpersons’ meeting room. The town had replica canes made to present to the oldest citizen.
Flagg said she will look at options to honor the resident.
A person is eligible to receive the cane if they are a legal resident of the town but reside in an assisted living center or nursing home elsewhere, Flagg said.
Anyone who knows a possible candidate to be named the town’s oldest resident is asked to call the Town Office at 897-3321.
According to history, on Aug. 2, 1909, Edwin A. Grozier, publisher of the Boston Post, sent a gold-headed ebony cane to the boards of selectmen in 700 New England towns. It included a request that it be presented with the compliments of the Boston Post to the oldest male citizen of the town, to be used by him as long as he lives (or moves from the town).
At his death, the cane would be handed down to the next oldest citizen of the town. The cane would belong to the town and not the man who received it, according to the website of the Maynard Historical Society in Massachusetts, which keeps information on the cane.
For more information, visit the historical society’s Web page web.maynard.ma.us/bostonpostcane/
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