The Name By My Door

--by wayfarer, posted Jun 25, 2008

Beside my front door is a rough brass nameplate. It says D. McLaughlan. The letters aren't all perfectly lined up, some are punched deeper than others and the spacing is off just enough to know that this was not done by a machine.

In fact it was my Granddad's name. He died before my Grandmother and when she died my Dad and Uncles didn't want anything kept. They just wanted the whole house cleared. They were hurting and just wanted the whole thing done as soon as possible - man style!

But I rescued the family photos from the bin and unscrewed the nameplate from the door. Because I was named after my Granddad I have put the nameplate on the door of every house I've had since then.

Later on I heard how the nameplate came to be. My Granddad worked in the coal mines alongside his dad since he was fourteen. When he was eighteen he married. His dad gave him a pair of working boots for a wedding present and for the first time my Granddad got a pay packet of his own.

His friends, some of whom still worked with their fathers (and didn't get pay packets) didn't have much money but still wanted to give their mate a wedding gift. So they scavenged a scrap piece of brass, borrowed files and letter punches and, on a tea break deep in the bowels of the earth, made him a proper grown up nameplate for his new home. He had that nameplate proudly fixed to his door all his married life and now, two generations later, I am doing the same.

Those lads lived lives after that with all their own trials and blessings. They are all gone now, but the favour they did for a friend all those decades ago still has pride of place on a family home. And they are not forgotten.

1645 Reads

Posted by wayfarer
Jun 25, 2008
Comments (9)

Readers Comments

falsemonkeypuzzl wrote: What a wealth of love resides in that tiny bit of metal. I am very touched by your story. Thank you for sending it in.

perseverance wrote: You have done the right thing.Thanks

AURELIA wrote: How Incredible is that! I'm glad you kept it and somehow found out the background about that special Name Plate. A true Treasure to Keep. ~Your Granddad is smiling~ Me too...~Aurelia

nickname wrote: Wonderful story.

ruru wrote: I have tears. Many people don't realize how important family history can be. I just received yesterday(whayt a coincidence) several photos of my grandmother. I'm named after her. She died in Auschwitz during the war... I never new what she looked like until now.There is even a picture of my dad with her... I wish i had something more than the photo to cherish of hers like you were able to do. Gd bless you home and family.

JuneBug wrote: Wow! What a great story! How proud you must be to have the nameplate in your possession and to hand that down! These things are so powerful to our roots. They are our identity. Our being...You are so awesome! Every story you share takes my breath away..... :}

brighteyes wrote: I don't know if heritage becomes more important as we age and we want to hold out to our loved ones so we start to investigate the family tree, what our grandparents and parents were like growing up, etc....through these memories, stories, namesakes, keepsakes our family lives one and we too get to cherish and become more acquainted with the past...glad that nameplate is hanging for all to see and has a place of honor in your heart!

jacq wrote: That simple name plate proves the best gifts are from the heart.... few things surrvive
long enough to be passed down to the next generation his name and his sensitivity are obviously safe with you. Tales like this matter!

lmil1954 wrote: It is surely great that you honor your grandparents in the way that you do. It's so nice to have something to hold onto long after they are gone. Linda:)

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