The idea of a Town Cane evidently struck Chambersburg residents very well, because at least six Chambersburg men received the Public Opinion Town Cane.
Dr. George Fisk Platt, Civil War veteran and retired dentist, was the first recipient of Chambersburg’s Town Cane. Burgess Clyde H. Pensinger presented the Cane to Dr. Platt on his 94th birthday at his N. Main Street home on 10 April 1929. Unlike the Boston Post Cane, it was described as “a handsome stick with a sterling silver handle.”[1] But like the Boston Post Cane, it was provided by the local newspaper. Platt expressed his appreciation in being the first recipient and “promised to use it regularly.” He thanked the Public Opinion for “carrying out the idea” and Pensinger for presenting the Cane.[2] Dr. George Fisk Platt died in August 1929 in Chambersburg.[3]
Solomon McLucas, also a Civil War veteran, was the next person to receive the Town Cane. Burgess Pensinger presented the Cane to the 94-year-old former farmer and father of eight in September 1929. McLucas and his wife moved to Montgomery Avenue about 1920.[4] “Although the holder of the Town Cane, Mr. McLucas does not deign to use it. He shuns the use of any aid to locomotion.”[5] His daughter reported “that right after he received the cane…[he] did not seem to appreciate it. But the idea grew upon him, and he became its proud holder and found great joy in its possession.”[6] Solomon McLucas died in June 1932 at his Chambersburg home.[7] At least six Public Opinion articles mentioned him as holder of the Town Cane.
David Benjamin Nace of Montgomery Avenue, another Civil War veteran, was presented with the Town Cane in April 1933. Burgess Robert C. Vanderau presented the Cane to the 94-year-old who was “one of the organizers of the Chambersburg Hospital and for many years treasurer of the board.” Nace expressed his appreciation and stated, “that he would cherish the cane throughout the remainder of his days.”[8] David Benjamin Nace died in October 1933 at his home in Chambersburg.[9]
It took almost a year to find the next recipient because, “the last time the Town Cane was given, a mistake was almost…given to the second oldest Chambersburger. Therefore, this time we are proceeding slowly in order to be sure the oldest man gets it.”[10]
George Washington Immell Sr., “well known retired produce dealer [of] Philadelphia Avenue,” was the next “man living in town” to receive the Town Cane.[11] In February 1934 Burgess Vanderau presented the Cane to Immell on his 92nd birthday, “on behalf of the Public Opinion.”[12] Two years later, the newspaper congratulated him for spending his 94th birthday shoveling snow. The article reminded people, “the Town Cane is possessed by Chambersburg’s oldest male. A cane was selected…because such a prop has long been associated with great length of years in man.”[13] Unfortunately, on his 95th birthday, Immell fell “in his bedroom as he arose from an afternoon nap [and] fractured his left leg.” He spent the rest of his birthday in the Chambersburg Hospital.[14] He was admitted to the hospital again in May “as the result of complications developing from his fractured leg.”[15] George Washington Immell Sr. died in May 1937 at the hospital.[16] At least fifteen Public Opinion articles mentioned him as holder of the Town Cane.
The Public Opinion wondered “how one would hope to use the cane—whether he could swing it, may be a little jauntily, or would have to use it as a prop, as a crutch to aid a diseased and time-wracked body to get about.”[17]
William Paxton “Pax” Slaughenhaup, a 92-year-old former horse breeder, was the next in line for the Town Cane. Besides working as a horse dealer and owning stables on S. Main Street, he raised Holstein cattle and worked in the hay and straw business. He also recalled “tended horses in the mountains at the time of the burning of Chambersburg by the confederates.”[18] He received the Cane from Burgess Vanderau in his room at the Hotel LaMar in June 1937. “Except for blindness, Mr. Slaughenhaup enjoys all his faculties and is in excellent health.” Almost one year after breaking his left leg in a fall, William Paxton Slaughenhaup died in March 1938 at Hotel LaMar.[19]
Wallace Holcomb of N. Main Street was the sixth and last known recipient of the Public Opinion Town Cane. Holcomb was a retired farmer and sheep rancher; hardware, lumber, and coal dealer; coal miner; justice of the peace; and mayor in Massachusetts and Connecticut. “Several years ago, Mr. Holcomb and his daughter, Miss V. Louise Holcomb, professor of psychology and philosophy at Wilson College…took up permanent residence in Chambersburg.”[20] Burgess Vanderau again presented the cane on behalf of the newspaper in May 1938. The “tall, spare, white-haired” Holcomb beat out Peter Schaffnit by just three months. Schaffnit died in November 1939 and was never eligible for the cane, because Wallace Holcomb died in June 1941 at their home on N. Main Street after a five-month illness.[21] His daughter was his only descendant.
Holcomb was the last documented holder of the Public Opinion Town Cane. A call for nominations of the next recipient appeared in July 1941. “Who Gets Town Cane? The death of Wallace Holcomb makes the Town Cane available for presentation to the oldest male citizen of Chambersburg. PUBLIC OPINION will be glad to receive the name of those who may be in line to hold the cane. Communications should be addressed to the editor in care of this paper.”[22] Note that the recipient must still be male. No article announcing the next recipient has been found.
(To be continued in Part 3: Waynesboro’s Town Cane)
[1] “Gets Town Cane,” Public Opinion (Chambersburg, Penn.), 13 Apr 1929, p. 1, col. 1.
[2] “Some Private Opinions of Public Opinion,” Public Opinion, 15 Apr 1929, p. 10, col. 1.
[3] Penns. Dept. of Health, Death Cert. no. 83366 (1929), George Fisk Platt, “Pennsylvania Death Certificates 1906-1970,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/3532115:5164).
[4] “Chambersburg Man, 94, to be Given Town Cane,” Public Opinion, 14 Sep 1929, p. 4, col. 5.
[5] “Holder of Town Cane is Nearing 97 but he Walks without Aid of the Cane,” Public Opinion, 24 Feb 1932, p. 1, col. 2.
[6] “Some Private Opinions of Public Opinion,” Public Opinion, 1 July 1932, p. 12, col. 1.
[7] “Deaths: Solomon McLucas,” Public Opinion, 27 June 1932, p. 2, col. 3.
[8] “Town Cane Awarded to Civil War Veteran, 94,” Public Opinion, 10 Apr 1933, p. 1, col. 5.
[9] “Holder of Town Cane Dies,” Public Opinion, 9 Oct 1933, p. 2, col. 5.
[10] “Some Private Opinions of Public Opinion,” Public Opinion, 13 July 1932, p. 10, col. 1.
[11] “Some Private Opinions of Public Opinion,” Public Opinion, 23 Jan 1934, p. 8, col. 2.
[12] “Town Cane Given to Aged Citizen on 92d Birthday,” Public Opinion, 16 Feb 1934, p. 1, col. 2.
[13] “Some Private Opinions of Public Opinion,” Public Opinion, 18 Feb 1936, p. 8, col. 1.
[14] “Oldest Town Man Falls in Bedroom, Breaks Leg,” Public Opinion, 16 Feb 1937, p. 1, col. 6.
[15] “Aged Man Critically Ill,” Public Opinion, 10 May 1937, p. 1, col. 1.
[16] “Aged Citizen Dies,” Public Opinion, 25 May 1937, p. 2, col. 1.
[17] “Some Private Opinions of Public Opinion,” Public Opinion, 3 June 1937, p. 20, col. 1-2.
[18] “Town Cane Given Fifth Recipient by Public Opinion,” Public Opinion, 1 July 1937, p. 1, col. 3.
[19] “Deaths: W. Paxton Slaughenhaup,” Public Opinion, 30 Mar 1938, p. 2, col. 2.
[20] “Town’s Oldest Citizen is Given Symbolic Cane,” Public Opinion, 12 May 1938, p. 1, col. 3.
[21] “Deaths: Wallace Holcomb,” Public Opinion, 16 June 1941, p. 2, col. 2.
[22] “Who Gets Town Cane?” Public Opinion, 15 July 1941, p. 1, col. 3.
