The Boston Post Cane

Boston Post Cane

In 1909 the first Boston Post Gold Headed Cane was presented to the oldest resident then living in the town of Albion.  The following list gives the name and length of time each person held the cane:

• Amos Tozier                              1909-1911
• Tristam Fall                               1911-1915
• Frank Metcalf                    Mar 1915-Dec 1915
• John E. Copeland                     1915-1927
• George Fall                               1927-1929
• Calvin Rollins                            1929-1930
• George B. Pray                         1931-1937
• George Albert Skillin                1938-1943
• Fred L. Fall                                1944-1945
• Willis E. Lander                        1946-1949
• William F. Sennett                    1950-1952
• Fred Harding                            1953-1954
• John Mayo (Jack)                    1955-1957
• Adelbert Stratton                     1957-1963
• 1963 – 1970 names and dates of the recipients are missing for these years
• Fred Thompson                        1971-1971
• Oscar Bragg                              1971-1985
• Gladys Knowlton                       1986-1989
• Verna Clark                                1990-1994
• Marion Nurse                             1994-1998
• Louise Sylvester                        1998-1999
• Verda Barnes                             2000-2006
• Angie Rowe                                2006-2011
• Norman Getchell                       2011-2012
• Betty Mason                              2012-2021
• Rena Harding                            2021-2024
• Donna Bessey                           2024-2026
• Ida Stevens                               2026-Present Day

On May 23, 2026, Ida Stevens was presented the Boston Post Cane by Albion Town Officials, Jason Dow, Eric Rolfson and Town Clerk Jeanie Doore at her home in Albion.Also in attendance, along with many members of her family, were State Senator Scott Cyrway and State Representative Paul Flynn.

Ida Mae Marks Stevens was born in 1933. She grew up on the family dairy farm on the Marks Road in Albion, the first born of 8 to Bruce and Lavina Marks. Growing up on the farm she was a student at the Quaker Hill one room schoolhouse. She was a graduate in 1951 of Albion’s Besse High School where she was active in sports and was awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution award.

After Besse High School, she graduated Thomas College when it was above the Woolworth store located on Main Street in Waterville where she lived and worked for her uncle Don and aunt Grace as a caregiver for their children to offset the cost of boarding instead of doing the long commute from Albion to Waterville each day. Ida married Elwin Stevens after he returned from his tour in Korea. They subsequently moved to Boston while Elwin attended college where Ida worked for Craftsman Insurance. After Elwin’s college graduation, Ida and Elwin moved back to Maine and bought the house across from Keay’s Store on Main Street in Albion which began her many years of living in the Albion Village.

She is the mother of five children. She has 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Ida started her career at the Albion Post Office in the late 60’s and continued working at various area post offices until she settled full time ultimately retiring from the Waterville Post Office.

Ida was involved in the Albion community through various organizations including the Albion Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, Fairfax Club, Rebecca’s, PTA, Scouts, Besse Alumni, 20th Maine Drum & Bugle Corp and the American Legion Auxiliary among others. Ida’s hobbies included bowling, square dancing, following the Red Sox, ceramics, and travel with her family & friends.

Ida is a proud resident of Albion and a friend to its fellow citizens.