Southampton TM will consider naming East Street bridge after longtime highway superintendent Garstka

By EMILY THURLOW

Staff Writer

Published: 04-18-2023 2:52 PM

SOUTHAMPTON — Spanning a section of the Manhan River, the East Street bridge connects Route 10 in downtown Southampton to the border of Holyoke. For more than 90 years, the overpass, which was rebuilt last year, has been referred to by the name of the roadway it resides on: East Street.

However, the bridge may soon go by the name of former longtime Highway Superintendent John V. Garstka if the town’s voters see fit.

Last Thursday, the Select Board unanimously approved a request from members of Garstka’s family to rename the bridge after the late resident to appear on the annual Town Meeting warrant in May.

Family members first put in the request to have the bridge renamed upon completion of the new East Street bridge in November 2020.

“After all he has given to the town of Southampton, we feel that his name should be recognized and remembered for all he has done for the town that he loved, and the town that loved him,” the letter reads.

Garstka, who died on Aug. 4, 2017 at 94 years old, was hired to work for the highway department in 1948 and retired nearly 40 years later. He was the only full-time employee at the time.

Garstka learned as he went along as a previous Gazette report states that all he had to work with was a “couple of beat-up old trucks, an old bulldozer, a scraper and an old tractor.” At the time, the town only had 17 miles of paved road. When he retired in 1984, he left the town with nearly 60 miles of paved roads.

Garstka’s daughter, Patricia Parenteau, told Select Board members at the April 14 public hearing that if he could find a way to fix something he’d do that rather than go out and buy something and replace it.

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“Back then, the highway department actually built the roads. They laid the pipe, they did the grading, they did the paving — not like today where we source things out,” Parenteau said. “He had to have a lot of knowledge on how to do all of these different things.”

She also spoke of her father’s ingenuity. While working for the town, he invented an asphalt paving box out of materials he found at the highway yard. The invention, which he called the “Magic Box,” helped spread blacktop in a more efficient way that ensured the roads were spread straight, smooth and level.

Another invention her father created while under the employ of Southampton was called the “Patch Pan,” which was a device that hooked onto the back of a truck to make filling potholes safer.

In addition to Southampton, his inventions were also used in other surrounding municipalities, and continued to help out his town and others well past his retirement.

“Dad loved Southampton,” she said. “We used to joke that he would spend so much time doing stuff for the town that we had to make an appointment sometimes just to have some ‘dad’ time.”

Michael Parenteau, Patricia’s husband, also spoke of his father-in-law’s love for the town, having put in “above and beyond” his job description creating things for kids to do such as several skating rinks.

While much of the older generation can attest to who Garstka was and what he was like, Michael Parenteau said he’d like to have the bridge renamed so that his father-in-law’s legacy can go on.

“A lot of people don’t know who he was and if they saw his name on the bridge … maybe they’ll look into his past and see all the good things he did for this town,” he said. “He didn’t toot his own horn, but I’m sure he’d be proud to have his name on this bridge.”

Service to his nation

Southampton resident Richard Leclerc, nephew to Garstka, spoke fondly of his uncle’s military service.

Prior to his service to the town, Garstka served with the U.S. Army as a sergeant with Company E 120th Infantry during World War II. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was taken prisoner in 1945 after he was seriously wounded when he tried to dislodge a grenade thrown into his foxhole, according to a previous Gazette report.

He was subsequently awarded the Purple Heart Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge.

Garstka served in the armed forces during World War II alongside his brothers, Max and Zigmund.

“My grandmother had to send three boys off to war and didn’t know if they were coming back. Fortunately for her, all three came back,” said Leclerc.

Garstka was also a member and a past commander of the Southampton American Legion Post and an active volunteer for Southampton, as were his brothers.

“When they decided to step down, I was told that I had to take over. There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I was the new commander, which I kept up until my body decided not to do it anymore,” said Leclerc. “I don’t know what else to say about Uncle John. He was a fantastic gentleman.”

Registered voters will have a chance to weigh in on the name change at the Tuesday, May 2 annual Town Meeting, which will take place at the William E. Norris School at 7 p.m.

Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.]]>