When Arthur Simpson, editor and publisher of the Chapleau Post got a linotype machine, it prompted Arthur Grout to write a letter to him entitled "Enough publicity may do the trick" referring to the completion of Highway 129.
Mr. Grout wrote that when Mr. Simpson started the newspaper, "Your main idea was to focus attention on Chapleau by publicity so that our claims and hopes for a highway into, and perhaps through Chapleau might be realized."
Writing the letter in the 1940s, Mr. Grout added, "You, and perhaps others had high hopes that when we had accomplished our objectives, that our town would grow, many with businesses would be attracted to the place."
Although the highway was not yet completed the letter noted that "Well -- half your dream has come true. You have the machine installed and running while we are still waiting on our road. But we still have the hope that our highway will be a reality in the very near future."
Always the Chapleau booster, Mr. Grout noted, "This district with its forests, water power storage, timber limits, mineral possibilities, tourist attractions, trapping and hunting areas, has everything and its opportunities are recognized by many. It needs a road to open it upand that can not be denied much longer."
Mr. Grout revealed that he had been in Blind River where "all the talk is about how much is expected to be done on development work along the Mississaugi. Contracts had been awarded.
Returning to the subject of the newspaper's new linotype machine Mr. Grout encouraged Mr. Simpson, "So get that linotype hot. Tell more and more people about how Chapleau needs the road -- about what it can mean to our young people in new opportunities, and if you make it loud enough and strong enough, we may be able to drive in and out of Chapleau before the linotype has its first birthday."
Well, maybe pretty close, as the first vehicles to travel over Highway 129, did so in bitterly cold weather, and tragedy on January 23 and 24, 1949. The tragedy was that Thomas Godfrey who had been a major supporter of the highway for many years died of a heart attack while making the first trip by car from Chapleau.
Chapleau had its highway, although many referred to it as a "turkey trail" through the bush. Mr. Simpson had his linotype and in 1950 was able to declare that Chapleau was also going to be on the Trans Canada highway.
The headline blared "WE GOT IT" in three languages on April 24, 1950 in three languages in the only Extra ever published by the newspaper in its history.
Schools were closed to celebrate the news, and Reeve B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt appeared in a photo in The Globe and Mail pointing off in the distance to Schreiber.
Politics intervened and Chapleau was never directly on the Trans Canada highway but in the 1960s was linked to Timmins and Wawa.
I had missed the letter to the editor linking the linotype machine to the highway in the Richard Brownlee papers, kindly loaned to me by Margaret Rose (Payette) and Bobby Fortin. It was well done, and I have to disclose that it brought back memories of my own days as an editor at daily newspapers in the days of the linotype machine.
Mr. Grout concluded with a tribute to Mr. Simpson, giving him credit and congatulations on having the courage to invest so much in new equipment for his business. My email is mj.morris@live.ca
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