BY NICHOLAS BROWN

In 1974, Allenstown’s Ed Cyr won a three-way race to become the town’s clerk.

“I’ve been unopposed for the last 31 years,” Cyr said.

Cyr, who was born and raised in Allenstown, decided not to run for the full-time post in 2007.

“I think I’ll spend a little more time with my grandchildren,” he said.

For Cyr’s first 28 years on the job, he did the clerk’s duties out of his own School Street real estate office. Since then, he’s been a fixture at the front of the house in the town hall.

“We started out doing auto registrations with two pieces of carbon and a typewriter,” he said. “We went from all quill and paper to all computers.”

Cyr said he’s also seen the town change from a small, closely knit community to a place that’s largely become a bedroom community.

Still, he said, “I’ve enjoyed the job from day one. I still don’t mind getting up and coming to work.”

Cyr said he’s happy to leave the clerk’s position to Diane Demers, who’s been his deputy for the last four years, and who voters picked for the post this year.

“She’ll do a great job,” said Cyr.