Oxford's oldest resident honored

Photo: Peter L. McGuire

HONORED —  Margaret Russell, holding Oxford's ceremonial Boston Post Cane, traditionally presented to the town's oldest resident, celebrates with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in a ceremony held last Thursday. Russell will be 100 years old on November 24.

OXFORD — Margaret Russell was honored and presented with the town's ceremonial Boston Post Cane during a surprise ceremony at the Oxford town office last Thursday.

Board Chairman Floyd Thayer presented Russell with the cane, traditionally given to the town's oldest resident. Russell will turn 100 years old on November 24.

Surrounded by family and loved ones, Russell celebrated the honor with cake and ice cream following the presentation.

Russell was born in West Virginia, but spent time in the Philippines with her missionary parents until she was seven.

Returning to the states, Russell grew up in Maryland, where she met her husband Melvin and raised three children.

Russell and her husband purchased property on Allen Hill Road in Oxford in 1962 and lived there together until his passing in 2007, just shy of 72 years of marriage. Russell still lives on Allen Hill.

Along with her three children, Russell's family includes 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

The ornate, gold-tipped cane is one of several hundred commissioned by the Boston Post in a 1909 publicity stunt.

The newspaper delivered the canes to the selectmen of the largest towns in New England with instructions they should be presented to the town's oldest living man.

In 1930, the custom was expanded to include women and continues to this day, with the original cane presented more than 100 years ago.

Friday morning, Russell said the ceremony came as a complete surprise to her, but she was incredibly happy to be honored.

"I've always been connected to Oxford, my family lived here before I moved up," she said.

"I just love Oxford, Maine."