Saturday, December 24, 2011

Fruitcake purchased at Kroger's in 1941 sells at auction in Ohio

Whether you love it or hate it, there is almost always a fruitcake at every Christmas party.
It is hard to ignore the rum-filled dessert packed with candied fruit, nuts and spices that often sits uneaten in the corner of the dessert table. But one that just sold in the U.S. would definitely have people talking if it were sitting on the corner of your table.
A man in Ohio has auctioned one off made in 1941 for $525. Meaning it was made when William Lyon Mackenzie King was Prime Minister and Canada was fighting in WWII.
E.F. Helbing purchased the dessert in 1941 and after 30 years decided to return it to the store at which he bought it. He returned it with a note dated May 20, 1971 that reads, "This fruitcake is one of six purchased by the undersigned during Christmas Week of 1941. During its 30 years of life the cake has traveled thousands of miles and has been subjected to all types of climatic conditions and shocks. We are moving again and wish to return the cake to its makers - THE KROGER COMPANY."

Store manager Frank Bates couldn't throw the cake out so he kept it, reports News10/KXTV. Frank's son, Wally, recently found the cake while helping his dad, now 86 years old, clean his house and they decided to auction it off with all of the proceeds going toward charity.
"As part of our support to the needy in our area we are privileged to offer this rare and unique collectible genuine and documented 1941 Kroger's Fruitcake," reads the Elite Estate Group website, which auctioned off the cake. "This neat old tin has the original label and most of the original box."
Larry Chaney of Elite Estate Group told WCPO it is in the old vacuum packed with rum and while it may have some rust on it, it's still probably pretty good.
But he called Kroger to advise them of the ancient snack and they told him to tell the buyer to keep it for a conversation piece and not for eating.

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