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PHOTO: In a photo from the 2014 Belgrade Town Report, select board Chairman Ernie Rice presents the Boston Post Cane to Howard Boston. (Belgrade 2014 Town Report photo)
BELGRADE – The town is seeking a new Boston Post Cane holder after Howard Boston, 98, died Aug. 20.
The cane, held by the town’s oldest resident, was awarded to Boston in 2014. It is displayed in a glass case in the Town Office, along with the names of the 14 recipients. The town is researching who the next can holder will be.
The Boston Post Cane tradition began in 1909, when the Boston Post newspaper distributed the canes to towns throughout New England with instructions that each should be presented to the oldest man in the town, to be used by him as long as he lives, or until he moves away. The newspaper said that the cane would belong to the town and not the man who received it. Women were included in 1930. The cane is made from Gabon ebony and its head is finished with a 14-carat gold top and is elaborately sculpted.
As many as 700 canes were originally conferred, and 517 towns in New England have reported they still bestow it, according to the Maynard Mass. Historical Society, which once had an extensive history on the Boston Post Cane on its website.
The newspaper folded in 1956, but the tradition outlives it, including in Belgrade.
Belgrade recipients have been:
Joel Richardson, born Dec. 9, 1837. Cane held 1925-March 26, 1928.
Effie Minot, born Nov. 10, 1836. Cane held unknown-Dec. 8, 1939.
Guy Yeaton, born March 2, 1882. Cane held Feb. 19, 1979-January 1980.
Stephen Twombly, born Aug. 8, 1888. Cane held from Aug. 8, 1980-April 1984.
Mina Yeaton Stuart, born Jan. 25, 1888. Cane held 1984-Jan. 14, 1989.
Arobine Twombly, born June 13, 1891. Cane held March 1989-Aug. 2, 1989.
Margaret Jenney, born April 14, 1896. Cane held unknown-Aug. 31, 1992.
Ruth Wort, born Aug. 8, 1897. Cane held unknown-Nov. 8, 1992.
Pearl Rich, born Dec. 24, 1898. Cane held from May 19, 1994-December 1994.
Helen Lundgren, born Feb. 11, 1902. Cane held April 2001-Jan. 14, 2009.
Esther Childs, born March 23, 1913. Cane held June 1, 2009-Dec. 2, 2012.
Stanley Lord, born Dec. 15, 1921. Cane held July 20, 2013-Feb. 27, 2014.
Howard Boston, born Nov. 28, 1922. Cane held July 15, 2014-Aug. 20, 2021.
