Search is on for Derry's eldest resident
Jun. 29—DERRY — The search is on to find Derry's eldest citizen.
The Derry Heritage Commission seeks the oldest person in Derry to receive the Boston Post Cane.
The cane was last awarded by the Town Council to Irene Blanchard, who died in January of this year at the age of 106.
The Boston Post Cane dates back to 1909.
The publisher of the Boston Post Newspaper donated ebony canes to the 431 largest communities in New England, with the instruction that they be given to the oldest man in each town or city. Upon his passing, the cane would be presented to the new oldest citizen.
Derry's first Post Cane came to town in September 1909, and was presented to the town's oldest citizen, 92-year-old Patrick Gillespie.
In 1956, Derry's selectmen at the time revised their own cane rules to include women in the oldest resident category. That year, the cane was presented to 98-year-old Nellie Huckins.
Another requirement to receive the cane, in addition to age, is to be a resident of Derry for the past five years.
The town has had rich history of longevity in several of its recent cane holders, including cane holder Dorothy Stone who was 99 when she died; prior to that World War II veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor James Bilotta held the cane until his death at 98. Appolonia Riccio held the cane until her death at 101.
Other cane holders also topped the centennial mark including Dorothy Green who received the cane in 2015 at the age of 105, and died two years later. Before Green was Catherine Dion, receiving the cane in 2009 and passing away three years later at the age of 110.
Derry gives a replica of the original cane to its recipients. The town's original Boston Post Cane is on permanent display at the Derry Municipal Center.
If anyone knows of a Derry resident who is at least 90 years old and has been living in Derry for a minimum of five years, contact the Heritage Commission at derrymuseum@gmail.com or call (603) 490-3054.
All submissions must be received by July 10.
