Princeton awards Boston Post Cane to Warren O. Thorell

The Boston Post Cane is a tradition that was established in 1909 by the Boston Post Newspaper. A special cane was presented to the Selectmen in 431 towns in New England as a way to honor the oldest resident of each town. Princeton is one of the few towns that still has its original cane and continues to award it to its oldest resident.

The current recipient, Warren O. Thorell, was born in his parents home on Beaman Road on one night in the year of 1922. His parents were lucky that their neighbor was a midwife because the doctor who arrived after his birth from Hubbardston did so while riding in a horse drawn buggy during an early New England snow storm. At 11 pounds, Warren was the biggest baby the doctor had ever seen at birth! He was named after the president of the United States, Warren G. Harding, and joined his 4 older sisters, Doris, Marion, Florence (Tootsie), and Helen.

Warren was married to the love of his life, Clare Cragan Thorell for 63 years. Sadly, she passed away in 2009. Warren served his country in the Navy during WWII as a bombardier in the South Pacific. He flew in a PBY Catalina. Upon returning home he worked for the Norton Company and the Princeton Police Department for 35 years, serving as our Chief of Police for 10 of those years.

Warren O. Thorell is a true Princeton native!