WEST PARIS – Elmer J. Waterhouse, 98, was presented the Boston Post gold-headed cane on March 14 by Woodstock town officials at his apartment. He was awarded the cane as oldest resident of Woodstock.

Officials present were Town Manager Vern Maxfield, Selectman, Leon Poland and Selectwoman, Judy Judkins Bennett. Twenty-two attended the ceremony and buffet lunch.

The cane goes back to August 1909 when the Boston Post forwarded to the boards of selectmen of New England communities gold-headed ebony canes, with the request they be presented to the oldest male residents in their towns, with compliments of the Boston Post. When that person died, it would go to the next oldest.

More than 600 communities in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island received the canes. It was not until 1930 that the cane could be given to a woman. The inscription reads, “Boston Post presented to the oldest inhabitant of Woodstock, to be transmitted.” The gold on the cane is 14 carat.