BY DAVE CHOATE

Town Clerk Donna Bergeron is searching for the town’s oldest resident – and wants prospective titleholders to know there’s a snappy looking cane that comes with that honor.

The famous gold and ebony Boston Post Cane that designates the town’s oldest resident spent almost 12 years in one set of elderly hands, from 1995 to 2007. When 108-year-old Colombe Ouellette passed away this last April, the search began anew for Goffstown’s oldest living resident.

“She was just a really nice lady, with a really wonderful family. Now for the first time in a long time, I’m searching for someone to give the cane to,” Bergeron said.

The early favorite is an unnamed 102-year-old man currently residing in the Hillsborough County Nursing Home, but Bergeron said she will have to confirm that before she can move on. She also said she wants to be careful not to jump the gun.

“We have to be careful not to slight anyone. We’ve gotten three phone calls so far and I’ve made a call to the nursing home, so we’re still looking,” Bergeron said.

There are some basic criteria that were established by the Board of Selectmen in 1994. A potential candidate who was not a resident of Goffstown prior to entering the Hillsborough County Nursing Home is not considered eligible to receive the cane, and anyone who isn’t a resident of Goffstown at all also can’t claim the cane.

Once the oldest eligible person is located, Bergeron said she will meet with that person and their family to determine they would like to receive the cane.

She said she will also keep an info sheet on the person and their family to better keep track of the cane’s whereabouts and the recipient’s history.

Gauging interest is sometimes a difficult task, Bergeron said, given that some do not feel as honored or comfortable alongside the title as others.

“Some will be very interested in it, and others won’t have any interest at all. There’s also always been the thought of a curse, and I remember hearing that because prior to Mrs. Ouellette we transferred the cane about four times in 1994 and 1995,” Bergeron said.

The cane itself has a long and interesting history. Edwin A. Grozier, the editor of The Boston Post in 1909, had 431 canes made and given to towns in New England as a publicity stunt.

Though the paper itself folded in 1956, many towns have either replicas or – like Goffstown – have managed to hold on to their original canes. Bergeron hopes to find a new home for the nearly 100-year-old cane in the near future.

“Once we find someone, depending on their health and their family’s wishes, we traditionally do a proclamation. Hopefully I’ll be hearing from more people soon,” she said.

Any residents with information or candidates can reach Bergeron at 497-8990, ext. 109.