Margaret Nye, 98, honored as town's oldest resident
Margaret Nye celebrated her 98th birthday on March 1, but on Friday she became part of a tradition that began eight years before she was born.
Nye was presented with the Boston Post Cane, given to a town’s oldest resident, by Selectman Jody Dickerson.
Friends and family, including a couple of great grandchildren, gathered in Nye’s Converse Road for the brief ceremony.
“It is an honor and a privilege to present this cane to Marion’s most seasoned resident,” Dickerson said.
A Marion native, Dickerson said this wasn’t the first time he’s been by the house.
“As a boy I used to deliver groceries from the Marion General Store to Mrs. Nye and her husband,” he said.
On hand for the honor were Nye’s children, Diane Kelly and Donald Nye, as well as her two grandchildren and three of four great grandchildren.
Born in Newport, R.I., Nye settled in Marion around 1950 and moved into the Converse Road home in the mid-1950s. Her daughter lives close by.
Kelly said longevity runs in the family as Nye’s mother lived to be 101 years old. Kelly said her mother is likely to reach that milestone, too.
“I think she’ll make it,” Kelly said. “She’s pretty healthy.”
In 1909, the Boston Post newspaper sent out 700 of the canes to New England towns to be given to a town’s oldest man. The ebony canes are topped with a gold head. Inscribed on the town's cane is “Presented by the Boston Post to the oldest citizen of Marion.”
In the 1930s, the newspaper changed the policy and allowed women to be awarded the canes as well.
Dickerson said the Marion cane is the original one sent out more than 100 years ago. Although, it had been missing for a period of time.
“A lot of communities lost theirs,” Dickerson said. “This one had been missing for awhile, but we were lucky enough to recover it.”
Nye’s initials will be carved onto the gold plating. While the town officially owns the cane, Nye can hold onto to it for a little while so her friends and family can take a look at it. After that, it will be displayed in the Town House.
“We’ll enjoy it temporarily,” Kelly said.
