In August 1909, Mr. Edwin A. Grozier, Publisher of the Boston Post, a newspaper, forwarded to the Board of Selectmen in 700 towns (no cities included) in New England a gold-headed ebony cane with the request that it be presented with the compliments of the Boston Post to the oldest male citizen of the town, to be used by him 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.

Of the 700 original canes issued by the Boston Post, About 400 remain but the one in the town of Hope did not survive. Fortunately, our historical society was able to find a cane that closely resembled the original one. The society voted in the spring to purchase a new ceremonial cane and William Pearse Sr. was the first recipient at age 92. William is the sixth generation of his family to be born in the homestead on Barnestown Road. He worked the farm with his father and brother, changing from apples to dairy in the 1940s. Operations continued with his wife Francina and their sons William Jr. and Christopher. Today, Chris and his wife, Linda, still operate the dairy farm, the last one in Hope. Some of those who attended the presentation are shown in the above picture.