He was a mover and a shaker in his day, and Ralph Winfield Walker, a former Rochester selectman, is on the threshold of something big – he is about to turn 100 years old.
He is the current holder of the Boston Post Cane as the oldest man in Rochester, although these days he resides at the Island Terrace Nursing Home on the Lakeville/Rochester town line.
The Boston Post Cane is a longstanding New England tradition that dates back to 1909 when Boston Post Publisher Edward Grozier gave the selectmen of 700 towns special canes trimmed with gold and ebony to be handed to the oldest male in each town until the time when it would be passed to the next oldest person in town. Rochester still carries on this tradition, although many of the canes throughout the region have been lost, stolen, or accidentally destroyed.
Walker was born May 7, 1914 and he has seen the world change a lot through the course of his life. He remembers the names of his two horses, Tom and Jerry, that used to pull his family’s carriage and graze on their farm in Maine, where Walker was raised until moving to Melrose, Massachusetts in 1938 with his wife Eleanor of 71 years.
Walker and his wife moved to Rochester in 1946. He worked many years at Goodhue Lumber in Middleboro and was also a long-time employee at the Registry of Deeds in Plymouth.
Walker was a hard worker, but his real passion was high up in the heavens. He was a stargazer and an astronomer, and he was always sharing his passion for astronomy with his friends and family.
“Astronomy was my hobby,” said Walker the afternoon of May 5, just before his oldest daughter, Cynthia Underhill, fastened on a white rose boutonniere for a birthday celebration planned for him at the nursing home.
At his home on Snipatuit Road, when Walker was about 50, he spent a year of his life building an observatory on his property, even grinding the lens to a homemade telescope by hand, which his daughter Lorna Walker fondly remembers.
“He was out in the garage and every day he would start grinding,” said Ms. Walker. “It was like therapy to him.”
His observatory and telescope were so impressive that The Sky and Telescope featured a story about Walker’s work in its magazine.
“I could write a whole history book,” said Walker. “I could remember things that seem like yesterday, but were 73 years ago.”
Walker recalled when he first moved to Rochester back in 1946, before the roads were even paved and none of the streets had street signs.
“Somebody was always getting lost,” said Walker. “When I came to town, Eleanor and I took a ride.” He recalled laughing, “And I spent hours trying to get back home again.”
Walker became deeply involved in Town politics, starting on the Finance Committee and then later getting elected as selectman.
“I love the Town,” said Walker.
He remembered saying to the residents, “If I get elected, you’re gonna get street signs.” This was one of Walker’s greatest accomplishments as selectman of the Town of Rochester.
“So I gave the town street signs,” Walker said proudly. He spearheaded the whole project, sending out for information to Boston to find out how and from where to get street signs to identify the Town’s roads.
“And lo and behold,” said Walker. “Do you know how much it cost to put in all those signs? Two-hundred dollars.”
Walker said he served two terms as selectman, although his daughter Cynthia thought it was for 12 years.
Walker talked about his love for the Red Sox and how grateful he is that he was able to see them win the World Series not once, but three times now.
How does it feel to turn 100?
“I’ve never been it before, so I don’t know,” said Walker cheekily, just two days shy of his actual 100th birthday. “I feel good. I eat good, and I’m in the best of health.” He credits his wellbeing to his four daughters and the staff at Island Terrace that he said takes “very good care” of him.
What is Walker’s secret to a long life and how did he live to be 100?
“Because I love the girls,” said Walker smiling.
“And they love him,” said daughter Cynthia.
At his birthday celebration, Walker was greeted by family and old friends, including two gentlemen who served with Walker on the Board of Selectmen, Edmund Arruda and Greenwood “Sonny” Hartley, Jr.
During the celebration, his daughters surprised him with a birthday card from the White House, signed by President and Mrs. Obama.
“We are thankful to you for being a part of the American story,” the card read.
So next time you pass a street sign, think of Walker and thank him for the part he played in the story of Rochester. You might have been lost without him.
By Jean Perry