The Narragansett Historical Society is searching for the oldest resident in the villages of Templeton to be the next recipient of the Boston Post Cane Award. He or she must have lived in one of our villages (Templeton, East Templeton, Baldwinville, or Otter River) for a minimum of fifteen years, the more the better. We have a few candidates on record for the award but it is the charge of the Select Board to make sure we have searched every avenue for our oldest citizen who may not be on record. If you know anyone older than 100 that has been a resident for more that fifteen years please contact the Select Board Office on or before Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.. You may email by clicking here, or call the office at 978-894-2755
The Boston Post Cane Award began in August 1909 when the then Publisher of the newspaper "The Boston Post" Edwin A Grozier forwarded to 700 Select Boards in Towns (no cities included) in New England a gold-headed ebony cane with the request that it be bestowed with compliments of the Boston Post to the oldest male citizen of the town. The cane would belong to the town not the man who received it. The canes were made by J.F. Fradley and Co., a New York manufacturer. The head was engraved as presented by the Boston Post to the oldest resident with the name of individual towns . The select boards were to be the trustees of the cane and always keep it in the hands of the oldest resident. Mr. Grozier passed in 1924 , his son Richard took over and the paper was around until 1957. In 1930 after considerable controversy, eligibility for the cane was opened to women as well. Templeton's last recipient was Josie Ruckey who received it on her 100th birthday. She held onto it for five years and the community was saddened by her passing at 105 yrs. old.
