At 93 years of age, Ann Winifred Davenport is the oldest person currently living in Wilmot, and as such, she becomes the new Wilmot Boston Post Cane recipient.
A small ceremony took place on March 31, at her home in North Wilmot where Marc Davis, President of the Wilmot Historical Society (WHS), presented the cane and a certificate to Ann. Joining her for this honor were daughters Debbie Bartzak and Sandy Hurst with husband George, plus some nearby friends and neighbors.
The Boston Post Cane, given to the Town of Wilmot in 1909 by Edwin Grozier, publisher of the Boston Post newspaper, is one of 700 personalized canes presented to select boards throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island as a promotional for the newspaper.
The cane, permanently on display in the WHS history room in the Wilmot Town Offices, is taken down each time a Boston Cane Holder is identified, and a photo is taken of the person holding the cane. The cane is then returned to the history room for safekeeping. Each Boston Cane Holder receives a certificate of recognition and a framed photo of him or her holding the cane. A copy of the certificate and photo are posted both in the town office and on the Historical Society Web site.
Ann Winifred McMorow was born on June 27, 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts. Her parents Francis Edward McMorow came from Grand Farrow Barr, County of Leitrim, and Agnes McManus McMorow was from Arnanure, County Ross Common, Ireland.
When Ann was 11 years old her father was killed in a hit and run accident, and her mother raised her and her younger sister, Fran, and brother, Frank, alone. Ann attended St. Anthony’s school in Allston, Massachusetts, and was educated by the nuns. She then went on to Girls High School in Brookline, Massachusetts.
In 1947, Ann met her future husband, Franklin Davenport, on a blind date with introductions from friends. Franklin was from North Wilmot, New Hampshire, where he lived until he was in seventh grade when, in April of 1936, his family moved to Allston, Massachusetts.
In March of 1948, Ann married Franklin in New Hampshire, and they lived on Holton Street in Allston, Massachusetts. They spent another few years living in a farmhouse in Sherborn, Massachusetts, before moving to their home in Natick, Massachusetts. They had two sons, Franklin John (deceased), and Thomas Edward; and three daughters, Sandra, Susan, and Debra. Six grandchildren, Jennifer, Shawn (deceased), Andrew, Jonathan, Christopher, and James; and five great grandchildren, Sophie, Lydia, Naomi, Jack, and Maria, brought much joy into their lives.
In addition to raising her family, Ann enjoyed a career as a bridal consultant at Jordan Marsh in Framingham, where she assisted engaged couples in their choices of linens, china, silver, and accessories. She and Franklin spent weekends in New Hampshire, with their five children and assorted animals, lending a hand to his parents on their farm. Upon retirement in the mid-1980s, they returned to their family home in Wilmot to enjoy country living. Ann lost her beloved Franklin this past February.
The previous Boston Post Cane holder, Gerald Biron, died in September of 2016.