Steve Godek - Early Years 1907 - 1935
Stephen Godek was born on October 1, 1907 in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. He was the son of Polish Immigrants Michael & Ludwika (Galica) Godek, and would be the oldest of their six boys. His birth took place in the mill housing owned by the textile mill Chicopee Manufacturing Company where his father worked. The home was at 65 Middle Street between Grove and West Main Street. This mill was a major presence in Chicopee Falls and employed many Polish immigrants.
Around this time industry in Chicopee was booming, and there was an urgent need for labor. A great influx of Poles came to fill these positions and made Chicopee their new home. Chicopee Falls became densely populated, and the housing was filled to capacity.
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church on Front Street played a large role in the lives of these immigrants. The church worked to keep their Polish identity alive. It ensured that customs and traditions were kept, and that the Polish language was spoken. St. Stan’s also served as social service agency by helping transition new arrivals from Poland. The parish sill prospers to this day.
Stephen remembers the mill housing as brick structures having two levels plus an attic. On the first floor was the kitchen, living/dining room and his parents bedroom. The second floor contained one large bedroom. The only source of heat for the apartment was a coal stove in the kitchen. Stephen remembers the first bathrooms were installed when he was about age six or seven. They were a welcome addition as prior to this time the toilet was located in an “out house” outside of the home.
During his grammar school years Stephen attended a school on Church Street, located where the Chicopee Police and Fire station now stand. He also attended two years at St. Stanislaus School as required by the Church to learn religion and Polish grammar. At that time there was still a large portion of undeveloped woodlands and fields in Chicopee. Stephen and his friends would cross the Chicopee River using a pedestrian suspension bridge behind the Fisk rubber plant and ascend the hill. They would play for hours in these woods between the river and Granby Road. Here they would also collect chestnuts and mushrooms.
In 1921, at age fourteen, Stephen’s school years were over and he was expected to go to work full time. His father got him his first job as a doffer at Chicopee Manufacturing textile mill. In this job he would replace bobbins from machines operated by spinners and bring them to the weavers. Two years later at the age of sixteen he found a better job at the Westinghouse Corp. He first worked as office help and then found a position assembling large radios. Stephen would work at Westinghouse until retirement.
On March 3, 1925 at age seventeen Stephen joined the Massachusetts National Guard. He enjoyed being in the Guard and in later years rose to the rank of sergeant. Each year one National Guard member was selected to go to West Point. Stephen was chosen for this honor to attend West Point, but declined, choosing to stay and work to help support his family.
Stephen Joined the St. Stanislaus choir in his early twenties. He loved to sing and would continue in the choir for over sixty years. Later he also sang for and was president of Spiewacy Chor Melodya.
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