Greenwood’s Boston Cane recipient Beth Brough, center, surrounded by family. Kim Sparks photo

GREENWOOD — Beth Brough said good friends and a joyful outlook on life have attributed to her longevity. At 91, she has received Greenwood’s Boston Post Cane from Town Manager Kim Sparks.

“[It’s] that dubious honor of being the oldest citizen,” Brough said wryly.

The canes are loaned to elders in 546 towns in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. While the cane has been presented to New England residents since 1909, until 1930, and only after considerable controversy, were women  eligible for the honor.

Greenwood

“Why are you going to the back woods of Maine with all the cold and snow? You’re supposed to retire to Florida. Don’t you know that? ” said friends when Brough and her husband Walter retired to Greenwood in 1996 from Medway, MA.

She said it was the best move they ever made. “We’ve loved every minute of it.”

She especially loves the peace and quiet; the mountains and the lakes, but said it was a combination of everything.

Their Massachusetts friends said there wouldn’t be anything to do, but on the contrary – they couldn’t keep up with all there was to do. Walter headed to the stage, joining The Senior Players and both of them were part of Western Mountain Senior College.

“The people we found extremely wonderful,” said Brough who lost her husband to Parkinson’s in 2017.

Before Greenwood

Early in their marriage Walter taught at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. She said her five children all followed his lead, making careers in education, too.

When her children were in school she drove a school bus. When the youngest child graduated high school, her next career was working at a law firm in Boston.

Today, all of their five children live in Northern New England. Her daughter, Heather (Brough) Sheehan is the closest, living in Lovell.

Brough said Sparks called her on a Monday night, “I have some news for you. You are the oldest resident in Greenwood.”

Brough said, “I always thought 91 was young, but I guess not.”

The Greenwood Select Board, Sparks, three of Brough’s children and other relatives were there for the Boston Cane ceremony on July 23 at Greenwood Town Office.