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Date: 5/18/2021
HUNTINGTON – The Boston Post Cane was presented on May 15 to Virginia Malanson, 95, who is now Huntington’s oldest resident. Making the presentation were Huntington Board of Selectman member Karon Hathway and Council on Aging Assistant Director Anna Horkun.
In 1909, the now-defunct Boston Post started the Boston Post Cane tradition, with the hope of boosting readership in the newspaper. They made 700 canes out of ebony imported from Africa, crowned them with a 14-karat gold tip with The Boston Post and the name of each town, and distributed them to cities and towns in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
The Boston Post went out of business in 1956; however, the tradition of presenting a Boston Post Cane to the oldest living resident continues for some towns, Huntington among them. While the original gold-tipped cane is on display in the Council on Aging, a reproduction was made and is presented to the resident to safeguard.
Malanson was pleased with the cane and flowers, saying she felt “like a queen.”
“I think it’s fantastic, it’s quite an honor,” Malanson said, sounding surprised that she is the oldest living resident in town. Originally from Springfield, she has lived in Huntington since 1972. She will turn 96 this October.
“May your life’s journey be blessed with good health and happiness remain with you,” Hathaway said during the presentation.