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PHOTO: T. Lois Bulger, recipient of Vassalboro’s Boston Post Cane. (Submitted photo)
VASSALBORO — The Vassalboro Historical Society recently presented honorary ownership of the Boston Post cane to Thelma Lois (Wood) Bulger.
She was born on April 24,1922, to parents Eva and Norman Wood in Oakland. Always known as Lois, she attended Oakland schools, where she met her future husband, Harold Bulger. She continued her education and completed a special secretarial course at Thomas Business College. Harold and Lois were married on Dec. 24, 1940, in Oakland.
The Bulgers later moved to Vassalboro, where they raised their four children, Mayella, Gregory, Linda and Elizabeth. They also founded and ran Pine Tree Stables, Home of Fine Horses for 30 years.
In 1982 the Bulgers opened Pine Tree Stables Antiques and Collectibles. Lois continues to run the antique business which now includes Ebay sales. She also worked for the Adjudication Division for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs at Togus as a claims examiner for 34 years.
She was a member of Adams Memorial Church until it closed. She taught Sunday School and was a member of the Womens Fellowship. She loves reading mysteries, gardening, and quilting. Her family has grown and she is proud Grammie to 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and is great greattGrammie to four.
The honorary ownership of the cane was given to Louise Charlotte Seehagen Eastman in September, 2016. She died Jan. 28, 2020, at the age of 101.
Besides honoary ownership of the Boston Post Cane, Bulger also received a walking stick carved by Raymond Breton of Vassalboro and a certificate in recognition of her status as Vassalboro’s oldest resident.
The tradition of the cane began in 1909, when the Boston Post distributed 431 of the canes to towns throughout New England with instructions that each should be presented to the oldest living resident of the town. The cane is made from Gabon ebony from the Congo. Each cane took approximately one year to make. The cane’s head is finished with a 14-carat gold top and is elaborately sculpted. Vassalboro’s cane was missing for many years, until Betty Taylor, of of the Historical Society’s founders, bought one in 1988 from an antique dealer in California and gave it to the society.
