Boston Post Cane Presentation
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On February 1, 2025, members and friends of the Historical Society gathered at the Town Hall to present the Boston Post Cane to Virginia L. Zwinggi, Warner’s oldest resident at 104 years young.
We were all delighted to meet Virginia and nineteen members of her family, spanning 5 generations.
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Boston Post Cane Presentation to Eugene O. Cook - February 2015

Boston Post Cane

In 1909 the Boston Post newspaper presented gold-headed walking sticks to many New England towns with the proviso the cane should be given to the oldest citizen for use as long as he or she lived. The Post passed out of existence years ago, but the tradition of the cane survives in New Hampshire and Warner, where it is still past to the oldest resident. The cane is made of Congo ebony with an engraved gold handle and tip. The Post’s editor, Edwin Grozier, felt the concept would help increase circulation of his newspaper. 431 canes were created and distributed throughout New England. According to Barbara Staples, “The Granite State’s Boston Post Canes: a New England Tradition,” only towns with populations over 500 received the cane. Of New Hampshire’s 224 towns, 176 were recipients of the cane. Several towns (140) still award the Boston Post cane to their eldest resident but unfortunately many communities have lost their canes. Warner has chosen to award the cane and a certificate to individuals during a public ceremony. The cane is then housed at the Warner Historical Society.

Gene Cook will be the 29th recipient. Seventeen men and and twelve women have received the cane in the past. It is interesting to note, that women were not always entitled to receive the cane because they did not have the right to vote and so were not considered “true” residents. Some recipients didn’t want the cane - looking at it as some type of curse. Others might refuse the cane as they didn’t want everyone in town to know how old they were. Lucky for us, Gene, age 94, was thrilled and honored when told about his opportunity to receive the Boston Post Cane.

Eugene O. Cook
2015 Boston Post Cane Recipient

Gene and Doris Cook purchased property in Webster, NH, near Lake Winnepocket, in the late 1970s to be near their sons who were living in Warner. Their home at the time was in Burrillville, RI where Gene was active in political and civic affairs as state representative, town councilman, and moderator. He was president of E.O. Cook Machinery Associates located in Glendale, RI.

He purchased the Main Street property of Steve Lowell in May 1979 and started Warner Home Supply which became a Trustworthy hardware store in 1981. His son, Michael, managed the successful business for several years until it was sold.

Nearing retirement they decided to build a log cabin in Warner on land given to them on Iron Kettle Road in 1982 The family jokingly referred to the junction of Red Chimney and East Joppa road as Cook’s Corner as their sons, Michael, Ron, and Richard lived there with their families.

Once moving to Warner Gene became involved in several activities. He served as a Selectman for five months in 1986 before retiring because of health reasons.

Being a WW2 veteran, he joined the Wilkins, Cloues, Bigelow, & Pearson Post #39 where he served as Junior-Vice and then Senior Vice-Commander. He served as Chaplain during some of the Memorial Day ceremonies. The month of May would find him spring cleaning local cemeteries and placing flags on the veteran’s graves. He would join Dick Violette to talk with school children about WW2 and assisting the fourth grade students at Simonds Elementary place flags at Pine Grove and Pine Grove annex graves. He attended the memorial services of local veterans. He was always available to assist at the annual 4th of July pancake breakfast and put out the flags on Main Street for various holidays.

He is a member of the Warner Historical Society and served as Assistant Treasurer from 1995-96. He was an active member on the Board and the Building committee, sealing the driveway, replacing windows in the Main Street house and attending to many handyman jobs. He also served on the Capital Campaign fundraising committee.

Gene was also an active member of the Warner Men’s Club assisting with various projects and selling booster tags at the Fall Foliage Festival.

Needing something to keep himself busy he joined Richard A. Cook, Builders assisting in building and renovating homes in the Warner area. He took great pride in assisting to build Richard’s barn and his grandson, Jon Cook’s home in Bradford. He was always available to family and friends to assist in plumbing and electrical jobs.

On January 31, 2015 Gene and Doris Cook celebrated their 73rd anniversary and are considered New Hampshire’s oldest living married couple. They have three sons. Michael and Cyndi Cook are current residents of Cochise, AZ. Ron and Kerri Cook reside in Canterbury, NH. Richard Cook and Rebecca Courser make their home in Warner, NH. Gene and Doris have 9 grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, with two on the way, and two great-great grandchildren.