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Golden Valley Man Treasures 102-Year-Old Fruitcake

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- When it comes to holiday desserts, fruitcake is one of the treats that people either love or hate. It is a bit of an oddity with its decorative colors and aroma. But a Golden Valley man's fruitcake is the talk of the neighborhood and not because the way it tastes – it's 102 years old.

It was a gift from close friends, who knew Pierre Girard has a sense of humor and a sentimental side.

"I was told this is actually a Victorian spice cake. And what they would do at that time is make the cake, eat part of it, then soak it in brandy or soak it in rum, and put it away and then take it out the next year," Girard said.

Girard's friends found the cake in box, as they were organizing items at an estate sale in St. Louis Park.

"It says Christmas cake, baked in December 1911. That was on the box when they found it. You can see the box is from Detroit," Girard said.

The handwritten notes on the box indicate a family member had surgery on Christmas in 1911 and then died. That could be why the cake held sentimental value, and was kept for so long.

"Part of the reason I value this is that the two friends who gave me the cake, have both passed away," Girard said.

Pierre says he thinks of them each time he displays it. In 2011, he threw a 100th birthday party for the cake. And then there was the time, the cake fell off its plate.

"It had it on a different stand and it fell and took a little bitty chip out of the piano," Girard.

Yes, the fruitcake chipped the piano.

Pierre says he'd like to find a permanent home for the cake one day -- maybe a museum or a historical society.

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