Can full of history

This can lives on the highest shelf in our living room. It is red, has some yellow flowers on it. It looks very old, has many scratches and rust. At the bottom has letters that say: FRANCK. I can’t smell coffee in it anymore, but when I hold it, I imagine how it smelled hundred years ago.

We have it in our home as a gift from my grandmother who was born in Stalowa Wola, Poland. My mother got it from her when I was born, as a part of our family tradition. This is our family’s treasure, my grandmother received it from her mother, Danka. It all began with her. She came to Stalowa Wola as a small girl just before the Second World War. My great- grandmother says that there was only mud, trees and many men trying to build a new city which was supposed to make Poland a great country. This city was built as a part of Central Industrial Region. Her father was one of the first workers in steelworks (Huta Stalowa Wola) where the production of steel and military equipment started. No one expected it to be needed that soon. Second World War began in 1939 when my great-grandmother was only three years old. It was very dangerous times for my family and lots of people died during it.

She survived the war and still tells us stories on how special she felt when her parents could drink the coffee from this can. I think she had only good memories of these moments. I know it because I can see how she smiles, like a little girl again.

This is very important keepsake for my family, especially for my mother who keeps only special treasures in this can: old photos and shells. I hope this can will be mine someday, so I can tell the story to my kids and because of it, my family’s story never gets forgotten.