I followed in Milton C. Burton's footsteps, as a New Ipswich boy attending Northeastern University and making the honor roll. What's interesting is Northeastern placed me in a coop job at a new hospital devoted to cancer research. The hospital was called the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, named after a boy from New Ipswich, Lemuel Shattuck. Lemuel Shattuck moved to Boston as an adult and established the first Dept of Health in the country. Milton went on to become a science instructor at Keene State.
I did not know Ray Willard received the cane. It was great that he got it. Before I got my driver's license I commuted to school in Fitchburg with Ray. He was a nice man. I agree with the two Johns, it would be nice to continue it.
As time went on, many towns lost their Boston Post Canes, as their oldest citizens passed away, but their relatives o longer knew where the actual canes were, and so they were lost over time. Many towns now keep the actual canes in safe storage in their town offices. They may be used only at ceremonies where they are presented to the latest recipient, then stored away, and an honorary pin in the shape of the cane is given to the recipient to keep.
Indeed, why hasn't the tradition continued? It would be an honor to be the one who managed to outlive everyone else in town.
My thoughts exactly. My mother holds the cane in New Boston (actually a duplicate). Outliving folks is a worthy enterprise.
I followed in Milton C. Burton's footsteps, as a New Ipswich boy attending Northeastern University and making the honor roll. What's interesting is Northeastern placed me in a coop job at a new hospital devoted to cancer research. The hospital was called the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, named after a boy from New Ipswich, Lemuel Shattuck. Lemuel Shattuck moved to Boston as an adult and established the first Dept of Health in the country. Milton went on to become a science instructor at Keene State.
I did not know Ray Willard received the cane. It was great that he got it. Before I got my driver's license I commuted to school in Fitchburg with Ray. He was a nice man. I agree with the two Johns, it would be nice to continue it.
As time went on, many towns lost their Boston Post Canes, as their oldest citizens passed away, but their relatives o longer knew where the actual canes were, and so they were lost over time. Many towns now keep the actual canes in safe storage in their town offices. They may be used only at ceremonies where they are presented to the latest recipient, then stored away, and an honorary pin in the shape of the cane is given to the recipient to keep.