Anne Sayles of Lake Street is the latest recipient of Plympton’s “Boston Post Cane.” A tradition since 1909, the Boston Post Cane has been awarded to the town’s oldest citizen. Happily, the event coincided with Anne’s 98th birthday!
In addition to her age, Anne deserves recognition for her involvement in the town. Over the years she combined her early training as an actress with her love of books to read “The Night Before Christmas” to the families gathered at the Congregational Church to celebrate Santa’s arrival on the Plympton Green and at the Plympton Public Library to help celebrate the season.
We are blessed to know her welcoming smile, ready wit, and generous hospitable spirit. We hope Anne long enjoys her tenure as the holder of the Cane.
About the Boston Post Cane: In August 1909, Mr. Edwin A. Grozier, Publisher of the Boston Post newspaper, sent a gold-headed ebony cane to the Board of Selectmen of several hundred towns across New England with the request that it be presented with the compliments of the Boston Post to the oldest male citizen of the town. The cane was to be used by that citizen as long as he lives (or moves from the town), and at his death handed down to the next oldest citizen of the town. The cane would belong to the town and not the man who received it.
Plympton, happily, has updated the cane presentation requirement to be all-inclusive.