After 80 years traveling across the country and around
the world, Eastern Michigan University graduate Mabel Fake
recently returned to her alma mater to celebrate her 100th
birthday. Her centennial was actually April 12, but Eastern
hosted a small party for her in the Halle Library Archives
May 11.
Fake ate birthday cake while looking at pictures and papers
from her graduation year, 1926. Though much at EMU has
changed between the time Fake attended school (then Michigan
State Normal College) and the present, one thing has stood
out.
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FAKE'S CAKE: Mabel Fake, a 1926
graduate
of Eastern Michigan University,
recently celebrated
her 100th birthday
with a visit to campus and a party
in the
Halle Library Archives. Photo
by Ward Mullens
|
"It's (campus) so big now," said Fake. "It didn't seem
small to me at the time, but it was tiny by comparison."
Fake has come a long way to reach her milestone.
She grew up on a farm in Canton with her three sisters
and two brothers. Her mother died when the youngest brother
was born, leaving the oldest girl, Nell, to take care of
the baby. Nell had to stay home from school until the next
sister was old enough to take care of the other children.
By the time it was Fake's turn to assume that responsibility,
her father remarried so she was allowed to stay in school.
After graduating from high school in Plymouth, Fake attended
Michigan State Normal College, to get her teaching degree.
Choosing a career wasn't hard for Fake.
"It was the only thing I could think of to do," said Fake. "My
mother was a teacher and my sister was a teacher."
During her first week at Michigan State Normal College,
Fake almost lost the opportunity to see her next birthday,
let alone her 100th. She came down with acute
appendicitis and was in the hospital for two weeks.
"Gangrene had set in," said Fake. "I almost died."
Fake had to rest at home for the remainder of that term,
but returned to Eastern the following year.
During her two years at Eastern, Fake lived in a rooming
house with five other girls. She shared a bedroom with
one other girl, and all six of them shared the kitchen.
There were no dormitories or dining commons.
"I had to cook my own food," said Fake. "I went home on
the weekends to get enough food for the next week."
After graduating in 1926, Fake taught at a two-room school
in Belleville. Fake and the older students were in one
room, while another teacher taught the younger students
next door.
Fake eventually went from living and working in cramped
quarters to stretching her legs on the open road.
In 1931, Fake bought her first car, a Model A, and spent
the summer driving across country with a friend. They made
it to California and back with only $150.
"Gas was 8 gallons for a dollar and cabins were 50 cents
apiece," said Fake.
Fake returned to college to get her bachelor's and master's
degrees in art, this time from Wayne State University.
After that, she taught art at three different schools in
Detroit until she retired in 1975.
In 1961, Fake took a one-year leave of absence from teaching
to see the world. Fake and a friend traveled to Asia and
Europe on Norwegian freighters, staying in YWCAs along
the way.
"We had no reservations," said Fake. "When we wanted to
go, we just took off."
Fake started her trip sailing from California to Japan.
From there, she traveled to China, Singapore, India, Egypt
and Europe.
"In Paris, we rented a Renault and vagabonded around Europe
for a month," said Fake.
The two drove through Spain, Switzerland, Germany and
the Netherlands before returning the car in Paris.
"We got a flat tire near Grenada," said Fake. Their mechanic
not only fixed their car, but also offered a bit of hospitality. "He
invited us to the house for dinner and then showed us around
the city."
Three years ago, Fake moved from her house in Farmington
Hills to the Fox Run retirement community in Novi, where
she keeps busy with her hobbies and events at Fox Run.
"I love it here," said Fake. "I've made so many friends."
Fake continues her interest in art, occupying her time
with watercolor painting, quilting, ceramics and jewelry
making. She is a member of the Trinity Stitchers, a group
of members from her church who meet every Wednesday to
crochet afghans for local hospitals or sweaters for children
in Africa.
Fake celebrated her birthday in style, with two parties
in addition to the one at EMU. Fake received flowers and
gifts from her friends and 237 birthday cards.
"Fox Run threw me a party that you wouldn't believe. Everyone
was there," said Fake. Another party was hosted for her
at Trinity Church, where she's been a member for more than
50 years.
Fake keeps herself healthy by eating right and exercising.
She walks and occasionally uses the equipment in the retirement
center.
"I just got me a new walker, so I prefer to walk outside," said
Fake.
Fake says that the secret to her long life is good genes.
Her two older sisters lived to be 96 and 99. Her younger
sister is 92 and lives in Westland.
