With the suggested removal of an erroneous plaque, Montague and Gill hope to put an end to any confusion regarding the true name of the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge, once and for all.
The name of the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge is stamped on weathered metal plaques at either end. But on the Gill side, sitting right next to the old plaque, is a shinier, newer one, which gives the name as the Gill-Montague Bridge.
For historical commissioners in Gill and Montague, the discrepancy is a matter of historical inaccuracy. The new plaque was put there in 2014, after the bridge’s most recent renovation. The older plaques are original to the construction of the bridge, which was completed in 1938 after 16 months of work and, like the plaques say, was dedicated as the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge.
“That’s the only name the bridge should ever be called,” said Ed Gregory, chair of the Montague Historical Commission and a member of the Montague Historical Society. “I want to make that point right away.”
The two towns are now asking the state Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to remove the newer plaque, or perhaps to replace it.
In preparation for renovations to the General Pierce Bridge on the other side of Turners Falls, MassDOT will make improvements to the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge this fall to accommodate an expected increase in traffic while the General Pierce is closed.
While the Gill Historical Commission was reviewing MassDOT’s plans for the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge, commissioners asked if something could be done about the plaque with the wrong name, said Gill Historical Commission Co-Chair Kit Carpenter.
“We’ve always wanted to change that sign,” she said.
The commissioners were told to write a letter to the local district office in Northampton, which they did.
They also asked the Gill Selectboard if it would send a similar letter, and asked the Montague Historical Commission, which then asked the Montague Selectboard, to do the same. All were glad to support the effort.
“It’s kind of funny to look at the plaque on the left, and it says ‘Turners Falls-Gill Bridge,’ and then literally 2 feet to the right it says ‘Gill-Montague Bridge,’” said Montague Selectboard member Mike Nelson. “Our friend, Ed Gregory, I know has been very vocal about it.”
“I believe it was put up by some bureaucrat in Boston,” Gregory said. “That guy was probably never west of the Quabbin Reservoir in his life.”
Although local historical commissioners have always been annoyed by the sign, this is the first time they have tried to have it removed.
Carpenter said she has no clear expectation of when MassDOT might respond, but she said she does expect a response. Gregory added that, if MassDOT’s response is not what the towns had asked for, they will likely press for a reason why not.
Reach Max Marcus at
mmarcus@recorder.com
or 413-930-4231.