In 1909, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, and Southport each became part of what has been called “the most famous publicity stunt of its time,” the Boston Post Canes.

At that time, the Boston Post newspaper was one of the foremost newspapers in the nation and its publisher, Edwin A. Grozier, came up with the idea to give 700 towns in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island a cane from the Boston Post.

Canes were presented to the oldest living male resident of each town, but each would belong to the town, not the resident. When the current holder died or moved away, the cane would return to the town to be re-presented. In 1930 women became eligible to receive the cane.

Many towns in New England no longer transfer the canes, and just have them framed or in local historical societies.

But Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport all maintain the tradition. 

Boothbay’s most recent recipient was Dorothy Rice Booth, known as “Aunt Dot” by the staff at St. Andrews Village where she lived. She died March 29, 2012 at the age of 106, and the cane is now sitting, owner-less, in the town office. Selectmen plan to find a new recipient after New Year's.

Southport’s cane is in their town office, also waiting to be being presented to a new recipient. 

The most recent holder of the Southport cane was Ruth Rhodes Lepper Gardner. According to her obituary, Gardner was known as “Red” for both her fiery personality and hair color. She died April 16, 2011 at the age of 105. That cane was returned to the town office this past summer. 

Before Gardner, the holder of Southport’s cane was Evelyn (Dox) Stratton, who came from a long line of Boston Post Cane recipients. Her grandfather, Royal Luther, and two aunts, Louise Luther and Evelyn Luther Pratt, also held Southport’s cane at different times.

Boothbay Harbor presented its cane to Evelyn H. Keene in December of 2007. Keene was born August 3, 1907, and she keeps the cane to show people who come and visit her, who include members of the Boothbay Harbor Police Department.

“Evelyn is a wonderful lady,” Boothbay Harbor Police Chief Bob Hasch said. “She’s very sweet, and I really enjoy chatting with her.”

During a recent conversation, Keene told Hasch she was very proud to have the cane. She enjoys showing it to people, Hasch said.

Of the 700 canes originally passed out, approximately half are accounted for, according to the Maynard Historical Society’s Boston Post Cane information center.

Some canes have been lost, stolen or destroyed. Some recipients moved away and took the canes with them instead of returning them.

Made of ebony with a 14 carat gold head, the canes were made by J.F. Fradley and Company of New York. The cane’s head is engraved with the words “The Boston Post to the Oldest Citizen of” with the town name following. 

The words “To Be Transmitted” followed, indicating that the cane should be passed on and not stay with the family after death or departure.

While the Boston Post went out of business in 1957, the canes are still passed down from resident to resident over time in many towns. What started as a publicity stunt has lasted more than 100 years, and has become a part of many towns’ histories all over New England.

Katrina Clark can be reached at 207-633-4620 or katrinaclark@boothbayregister.com. Follow her on Twitter: @BBRegisterClark or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BBRegisterKatrinaClark.