Construction & Presentation
The
canes were all made by J.F. Fradley and Co., a New York manufacturer,
from ebony shipped in 7-foot lengths from the Congo in Africa. They were
cut to cane lengths, seasoned for 6 months, turned on lathes to the
right thickness, coated and polished. They had a 14-carat gold head two
inches long, decorated by hand, and a ferruled tip. The head was
engraved with the inscription, "Presented by the Boston Post to the
oldest citizen of (name of town) To Be Transmitted". The Board of
Selectmen were to be the trustees of the cane and keep it always in the
hands of the oldest citizen. Apparently no Connecticut towns were
included, and only 2 towns in Vermont are known to have canes.
In 1930, after considerable controversy, eligibility for the cane was opened to women as well.