A CENTURY—AND THE CANE!

Carolyn Anderson, who turned 100 in June, was honored Monday at her Bennett Street home as Manchester’s eldest living resident and recipient of the town’s Boston Post Cane.  Mrs. Anderson, a Gloucester native who has lived in Manchester for more than 50 years, used the occassion to wear the birthday tiara and sash (that read, “100 and Fabulous!”) she’d been given by her family when they celebrated her birthday dinner earlier this summer at Bravo by the Sea.

This is the second year in a row that Mrs. Anderson has been tapped for this recognition.  As he presented her with the ceremonial cane, Select Board Chair John Round shared that the Boston Post Cane tradition dates to 1909, when Boston Post publisher Edwin A. Grozier sent gold-headed ebony canes to hundreds of New England towns to be presented to each community’s oldest male resident.  Since the 1930s, the honor expanded to include women and many towns—including Manchester and Essex—continue it today using the original cane or a ceremonial successor.

On hand to share in the presentation were Select Board Vice Chair Cathy Bilotta, Town Administrator Tony Barletta, Mike Chapman of the Manchester Elder Brethren and Mary Minor, Manchester’s Council on Aging director, who invited Mrs. Anderson to join in on the monthly COA meals at the First Parish Church Community Hall.

Congratulations to Carolyn Anderson and her family.