Adams presented Linneus’ cane

Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
RECOGNIZED — Madeline Bates Adams, 93, was recognized Saturday at Linneus Field Day as the eldest citizen of the community. Former Town Manager Fran Hutchinson presented Adams with the Boston Post Gold Cane.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    LINNEUS — Madeline Bates Adams was the Boston Gold Post Cane recipient during Saturday’s festivities in Linneus.
    Adams, 93, accepted the honor from former Linneus Town Manager Fran Hutchinson during a short ceremony before the community barbecue.
    “We are happy that she is able to be here today,” said Hutchinson. “I’ve been with the town and have known Madeline most of her life.”
    Adams was born Oct. 30, 1918.
    According to the Boston Post Cane website, “the tradition of presenting a cane to the town’s eldest resident began Aug. 2, 1909 when Edwin A. Grozier, publisher of the Boston Post newspaper, forwarded to the Board of Selectmen in 700 towns in New England a gold-headed ebony cane with the request that it be presented with the compliments of the Boston Post to the oldest male citizen of the town, to be used by him as long as he lives (or moves from the town), and at his death handed down to the next oldest citizen of the town. The cane would belong to the town and not the man (later changed to include women) who received it.”
    Adams, one of eight children, has lived in Linneus all of her life.
    “It’s wonderful,” she said of her honor. “I can’t express the words. I can’t say enough to thank everybody.”
    Adams married Preston Adams, now deceased, and the couple had three daughters, Patricia Hersey, Diane Nason and Pauline Crane. Preston was a farmer and Madeline a homemaker.
    When jokingly asked if the girls gave her a hard time growing up, she went along with the fun. “Well, in a way,” she said with a smile.
    Adams has three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
    “She has lived a quiet life on the farm,” added Hutchinson.
    Partially blind, Adams fills her day talking on the phone and listening to television or radio. She often goes to the hospital to visit her brother and the convalescent home to call on her sister. Her daughters, Patricia and Diane, said she is still very independent.
    Asked if she had a piece of advice to share, she thought for a moment. At 93 there are probably lots of pieces of advice to hand out to the younger generation today. But, her daughter prompted her by saying, ‘What do you say to us?’
    “Oh,” she said. “Take one day at a time.”