With the passing of Elizabeth Murphy in June at age 95, the Leeds Historical Society, in conjunction with the Town of Leeds, is trying to determine to whom the Boston Post Cane should now be presented. In order to be considered the town’s oldest citizen, an individual must have resided in and/or been eligible to vote in Leeds for the last 20 years.

If you think you are, or know of someone who might be the oldest citizen, call the Leeds Town Office at 207-524-5171 or Laura Juraska at 207-524-2324.

In August 1909 Edwin A. Grozier, publisher of the Boston Post, a newspaper, gave 700 New England towns a cane, to 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 lived (or moved from the town), and at his death handed down to the next oldest citizen of the town, according to a news release from Pam Bell, Leeds Historical Board.

The canes were produced by J.F. Fradley and Co., a New York manufacturer, from ebony shipped from Africa. They were cut to cane lengths, seasoned for six months, turned on lathes, coated and polished. The canes’ heads were 14-carat gold, hand decorated, and engraved with the inscription, presented by the Boston Post to the oldest citizen of (name of town)  “To Be Transmitted.” The cane would belong to the town and not the man who received it. In 1930, after considerable controversy, eligibility for the cane was opened to women as well.

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