WAYNESBORO – Rotarians in the past two weeks have learned about the efforts to eradicate polio and about the old tradition of “Town Canes.”
Dr. Greg Lyon-Loftus discussed the polio eradication efforts during his Rotary presentation. He noted polio has been eradicated in 123 countries with active cases now in only two countries.
Last year more than 400 million polio immunizations took place, he added, along with immunizations for other diseases.
Rotarians also recently heard from Pam Anderson, a certified genealogist, about “Town Canes.” She said the tradition started in the early 20th century. The Boston Post newspaper claimed to have initiated the tradition, though there is some dispute about that.
Nonetheless the paper started the program to boost readership. A community was to award a “Town Cane” to the oldest male citizen, and upon his demise, the cane would be conferred to the next oldest male citizen. This tradition spread, and both Waynesboro and Chambersburg joined in the tradition. The practice waned and ended in the 1940s.
The whereabouts of these canes is currently unknown, Anderson said.
