Boston Post Cane Policy

Adopted May 2023

History of the Boston Post Cane

In August 1909, Mr. Edwin A. Grozier, Publisher of the Boston Post, a newspaper, forwarded to the Board of Selectmen in 700 towns* (no cities included) in New England a gold-headed ebony cane with the request that it 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 lives, and at his death handed down to the next oldest citizen of the town. In 1930, and not without controversy, eligibility for the cane was opened to women.  The cane would belong to the town and not the man who received it. The canes were all made by J.F. Fradley and Co., a New York manufacturer, from ebony shipped in seven-foot lengths from the Congo in Africa. They were cut to cane lengths, seasoned for six months, turned on lathes to the right thickness, coated and polished. They had a 14-carat gold head two inches long, decorated by hand, and a ferrule tip. The head was engraved with the inscription, Presented by the Boston Post to the oldest citizen of Princeton, MA.  The Selectboard are the trustees of the cane and are to always award it to the oldest citizen.

Eligibility and Selection

The holder of the Cane shall be at least 80 years old and must have resided in the Town of Princeton for the past 20 years.

The Town’s local census data will be used to determine the eldest citizen and the number of years residing in town.

The Selectboard recognizes that the eldest citizen may not wish to receive the title and therefore asserts that in such cases; the recognition will be made to the next eldest citizen that wishes to hold the title.

Presentation of the Cane

A member of the Selectboard or his/her designee, shall bestow the title of “Eldest Citizen” upon the selectee and present him/her with the cane.

The location of the presentation will be determined according to the circumstances of the honoree. The recipient will retain this honor and the cane as long as the individual lives even though another resident may become eligible. The Town Clerk’s Office must be notified if the recipient of the Boston Post Cane dies or otherwise refuses or returns the honor. At that time, the Town Clerk shall determine the new oldest resident of the Town of Princeton.