Beginning in the first decade of the 20th century, hundreds of communities around New England handed out canes to the oldest resident, including Watertown. For many year Watertown’s cane was missing, but it was recovered in 2009. So who has the cane now — no body.
A story about the canes, first handed out in 1909 by the Boston Post newspaper, recently appeared in the New York Times.
The authors interviewed Charles Morash, who helped recover Watertown’s cane in 2009. It was first handed out in 1910 and may have been missing since. The story of the cane’s recovery was chronicled by the Historical Society’s Town Crier newsletter.
The cane now is on display at the Edmund Fowle House, the Historical Society’s home, and there are replicas to be handed out to the oldest man and woman in town.
The canes have not been handed out, however, but not for lack of trying according to the Times.
Read the story on the New York Times by clicking here. (If you don’t have a subscription, the Watertown Library offers free online access)