Chapleau's second reeve Thomas Godfrey 'pioneer builder of the north' dies as Highway 129 opened in 1949

Although best known for his role in the construction of the Chapleau end of Highway 129, and his untimely death from a heart attack just as it was completed in January 1949, Thomas J. Godfrey served as the second reeve and was otherwise greatly involved in community life in its early years.

Writing in Chapleau Trails, edited and published by the late Dr. W.R. "Bill" Pellow, Betty (Good) Godfrey, the wife of Thomas Godfrey Jr, his son,  wrote the following about her father-in-law and the completion of Highway 129.

"Tom Sr. lived to see his beloved Chapleau highway completed in 1949 and he was a member of the party that drove the first automobile across those last one hundred yards to join Chapleau to the outside world by uniting two primitive bush roads. It was winter. 

"The snow was heavy and deep. It was a bitter cold day. The drive had been long and arduous, excitement was high, anticipation of this moment was trying on the healthiest and bravest, however it proved too much for Tom Godfrey and on that day when he was experiencing fulfillment, ultimate pleasure and satisfaction, he had a heart attack and died."

The Chapleau Post reported that Mr. Godfrey had commented that it was the "happiest moment of my life" just before he died.

Mr. Godfrey had succeeded G.B. Nicholson who had served as reeve from 1901 when Chapleau was incorporated until he chose to retire. Mr. Godfrey was reeve from 1914 to 1916.

Born in Godfrey, Ontario, he arrived in Chapleau in 1898 to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway. 

Like so many of Chapleau's early pioneers he quickly became involved in community life playing hockey, baseball, curling, golf as well as becoming a member of the Chapleau Town Band. He became a big asset as he was already a violin player but switched to cornet and euphonium.

In 1916, Mr. Godfrey played baseball on the 'Young Elephants' coached by Father Romeo Gascon of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church. My grandfather Harry Morris also played on it.

In fact, when I was a a child walking past his house at the intersection of Birch and Lansdowne streets where the Louis Hemon Cultural Centre is now, I still recall him practising on his front porch.

Earle Sootheran, Mr Godfrey, Oliver Korpela

Mr. Godfrey became Indian Agent in 1916, a position he held for many years, but he also became an entreprenur owning a pool room established circa 1910, and for a time the "old old rink" on Lorne Street.

But his first love was to complete the "big gap in the middle" which would result in Highway 129 with Thessalon. Until it was opened, Chapleau was really only accessible by the Canadian Pacific Railway. The highway was also under construction from the Thessalon end.

The newspaper referred to him as " a pioneer builder of the north" well known as Indian Agent and road superintendent from 1923 into the 1930s and the Great Depression.

On that January day in 1949 when he died, the Chapleau Post reoprted that the Chapleau contingent was "battling snowdrifts and biting winds over a rugged trail where no cars had ever passed he had driven completely over the Chapleau end of the road."

As Mr. Godfrey celebrated the "happiest moment" of his life, he had a heart attack and died on Highway 129. He was 74. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

'Hi'ya neighbour' greets Chapleau contingent as it reaches Thessalon as Highway 129 opened in Winter of 1949

Tom Godfrey

"Hi'ya Neighbour", and with this "breezy" comment, Mayor Cork of Thessalon greeted a Chapleau contingent who arrived in his community to celebrate the official opening of Highway 129 between the two communities.

The date was January 29, 1949, a day later than planned because of the sudden death of Thomas Godfrey, the day before just after declaring "This is the happiest day of my life," as a cavalcade of cars had just passed the Chapleau portion of the highway on its way to Thessalon.

Mr. Godfrey, a "pioneer builder" of the highway, according to the Chapleau Post, had achieved part of his objective --. ""Bucking snowdrifts and biting winds, and driving over a rugged trail where no cars had ever passed, he had driven completely over the Chapleau end of the road and was on the McFadden road leading to Thessalon when death halted him."

The cavalcade returned to Chapleau after Mr. Godfrey died but another attempt was made the next day as Arthur Grout and Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Vice started out at 6:30 a.m. with the "avowed intention of t rying to get to Thessalon that day..."even though the weather was brutal."

The account of that trip is contained in the Richard Brownlee Papers kindly loaned to me by Margaret Rose (Payette) and Bobby Fortin.

"It was about 35 degrees below zero and one minor trouble after another was encountered, such as the motor freezing up, chains giving trouble, and, then -- something really serious happened. In going to open the trunk at the rear of the car, the keys were dropped in the snow. It was a matter of grave importance that these keys be found promptly because all of the party were getting extremely cold and were at least twelve miles from any assistance.

"After searching through the snow with bare hands  for some time, and just about despairing of ever being able to find them one key was found. It turned out to be the motor key and to their very great delight the motor started promptly and although it was overheating because of a misplaced fan belt they got through to Standard Paving where they got repairs."

They met Tom Carter of Carter Bus Lines who claimed that in all his driving experience he had never had such a trip as the one he had from Thessalon the previous day. He recommended they wait until snow plows cleared the highway. There had been a "howling blizzard."

But the party decided to continue the trip and "proceeded very cautiously so as not to get off the narrow road into the snow-filled ditches." They made to Lessard's Camp where they had turned back the day before after Mr. Godfrey died.

Then, to their delight, they discovered that the snow plow had started out ahead of them, and from then on they were able to enjoy "the scenery and the winding twisty nature of the road."

"As they got down towards the Mississaugi River it was noted how closely the road clung to the edge of the river and at times skirted around high rocky bluffs or steep sloping walls of gravel>"

They arrived safely in Thessalon at about 3:30 p.m and were greeted by Mayor Cork and other dignitaries. Great sympathy was expressed on the death of Mr. Godfrey. A civic reception was held at the Stinson Hotel.

Earle Sootheran, Mr Godfrey, Oliver Korpela

As a matter of historical interest, the first car to make the trip over Highway 129 was not a car "travelling out" from Chapleau but was a northbound car travelling "in" owned by Frank Korpela and driven by Tom Carter. They arrived at Lessard's Camp on January 28 just after the Chapleau party had headed home.

They stayed there overnight and made it to Chapleau the next day reporting bad road conditions and heavy with snow. It was necessary to stop and clean the snow from the grille of the car several times. It was a new coupe driven up from Toronto equipped with snow tires and chains.

The opening of Highway 129, although it was often called a "turkey trail through the bush" was an important moment in Chapleau history, providing highway access to Thessalon and beyond,  and also to American tourists. 

Travelling Highway 129 was always an adventure, and despite many improvements over the years still is. I was over it in 2015 with Alison (McMillan) and Michael McMullen when we travelled to Chapleau for the launch of 'The Chapleau Boys Go To War." My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Gene Bernier, Yvon Martel led successful seven year campaign to establish Chapleau airport with support from local business, industry and individuals by 1970

When Gene Bernier became president of the Chapleau Chamber of Commerce in 1963, he had one major thought in mind -- the construction of an airstrip for Chapleau.

Ralph Stewart, Gene, Dr McIlveen, MJM

Closely associated with Gene from the outset was Yvon Martel, and together they launched a seven-year campaign to obtain support for the project, and by May, 1970, the airstrip had become a reality when Stan Deluce, of Chapleau, president of of White River Air Service officially landed the first plane on the airstrip with Yvon as his passenger. Gene headed the welcoming committee.

As I was researching the airport story, I could not help but think of Tom Godfrey Sr, of a previous generation of Chapleau community builders, all volunteers, whose great passion was to have Highway 129 to Thessalon completed, and "turkey trail" through the bush it may have been when opened in 1949, the community had a highway link to break down the barriers of isolation.

Gene, Yvon and the others who joined them in the airport project were of a generation who saw that air travel was becoming more common by the 1960s and they were determined that Chapleau would not be left behind.

The chamber of commerce backed Gene's "thought" about the airstrip, and an airport committee was formed. It had its own bank account and Gene was the chairman. In no way, was the project officially supported by the Township of Chapleau council. In fact, over the next seven years there would be some misunderstandings between the two, but they were resolved by May 1970 when the council agreed to let them use township land, but would not provide any grants for the project.

In short, Chapleau got an airport because of the dedication of volunteers from businesses, industries and individuals who supported it.

For example, Gene and Yvon made innumerable trips at their own expense to meet with federal and provincial government officials in Ottawa and Toronto.

And, when construction began, Yvon, became the "foreman" according to a report Gene gave to the Chapleau Rotary Club, adding he was of "tremendous value" to the success of the project. Although they received some funding from senior governments, they also relied on donations of funds and equipment locally.

These airport pioneers were not content to just create a gravel strip runway, but were busy negotiating with the provincial government to establish a forest fire water bombing base at it, which eventually contributed to expansion.

By 1973, it had become the Chapleau Municipal Airport and the council had established the Chapleau Airport Commission. The first members were Gene as chair, with Yvon and Jack Russell as members, and a representative of council. When I became Chapleau reeve in 1974 I represented council on the airport commission.

But, it was the government of Premier Bill Davis who gave the airport a great boost when it established NorOntair in 1971. The airline was established to create east-west links across Northern Ontario. Premier Davis landed at the airport on a visit to Chapleau in 1975, where he toured the construction site of the Chapleau General Hospital and reviewed plans for other projects planned by council.

First NorOntair flight Timmins-Chapleau

Chapleau was added by 1975, and more barriers of isolation had come tumbling down. Citizens had daily service to Timmins, Sault Ste Marie and connections to Toronto. Depending on the schedules over the years you could also fly directly to Elliot Lake, Sudbury and North Bay.


In July 1975, the terminal building was officially opened. It coincided with a visit to Chapleau by an American marching band which was enlisted to play for the ceremonies.

Chapleau reeve Michael leaving 1st NorOntair flight

Ralph Stewart, the Member of Parliament at the time was present, and being a very accomplished musician was invited to lead the band in the Playing of 'O Canada'. Ralph took his place and proceeded to conduct the playing of the Canadian national anthem -- the only problem was that the band played the AMERICAN national anthem, followed by the Canadian.

In October 1979, a ceremony was held to officially open two paved runways, and Gene retired as chairman to be succeeded by Yvon Martel.


Chapleau had airline passenger service until 1996 when the government of Premier Mike Harris stopped subsidies to NorOntair.


In recognition of his tremendous contribution to the airport, it is now called after the person who had a thought in 1963, and made it into a reality -- the Eugene Bernier Airport. My email is mj.morris@live.ca


Thanks to DOUG GREIG for his research assistance.

Chapleau highway to outside world opened on cold winter day in 1949

Earle Sootheran, Tom Godfrey, Oliver Korpela

While it was often referred to as "a turkey trail through the bush," on January 28, 1949, in the midst of winter, Highway 129 was officially completed.

Since 1885 when Chapleau was founded as a divisional point on the Canadian Pacifc Railway, train travel was the only viable way of getting to and from the community. In 1947 the longest drive anyone could take was about 35 milles from town and the motor vehicle was considered a luxury. As a youngster I recall them arriving by rail at the old freight sheds on Lisgar Street.

A highway had been promised for many years and activity would begin around election time but after the votes were counted, it would cease. However, in 1948, a disastrous forest fire changed the dynamics as the provincial government offered opportunities to lumber companies.

Therefore, Highway 129 was completed to Thessalon, and turkey trail it may have been, but a highway was a highway, and it was a first step in improving Chapleau's transportation links with the outside world.

One of the major proponents for a highway over the years was Thomas Godfrey Sr. Mr. Godfrey, who was one of the early builders of Chapleau, played many roles in community life. He was reeve from 1914 to 1916, and at various times owned the pool room, the old as in "old old" arena on Lorne Street, as well as being an insurance agent, Notary Public and Indian Agent. He
was also an inventor and long time member of the Chapleau Town Band where he played the euphonium.

Writing in Chapleau Trails, edited and published by Dr. W.R. "Bill" Pellow, Betty (Good) Godfrey, the wife of Thomas Godfrey Jr.
wrote the following about her father-in-law and the completion of Highway 129.

"Tom Sr. lived to see his beloved Chapleau highway completed in 1949 and he was a member of the party that drove the first automobile across those last one hundred yards to join Chapleau to the outside world bu uniting two primitive bush roads. It was winter. The snow was heavy and deep. It was bitter cold day. The drive had been long and arduous, excitement was high, anticipation of this moment was trying on the healthiest and bravest, however it proved too much for Tom Godfrey and on that day when he was experiencing fulfillment, ultimate pleasure and satisfaction, he had a heart attack and died."

Interestingly the first car that made the trip over the new highway was not one from Chapleau it was a a northbound car from Thessalon owned by Frank Korpela and driven by Tom Carter. The Chapleau group heading south had turned back to Chapleau after the death of Mr. Godfrey. The car was new and was equipped with chains and snow tires.

According to a report in the February 3, 1949 Chapleau Post, there were bad road conditions and it was heavy with snow.

The report said that snow was measured on several occasions and was 8-10 inches on the highway and it was often necessary to stop and clear the snow from the grills of the car. On a few occasions it was necessary to shovel drifts in order to get through.

The two men did not make the trip in one day. They left Thessalon about 9:30 a.m in the morning but stopped at Lessards Camp along the way and finished the drive into Chapleau the next morning.

For some reason after the highway opened, the department of highways paved about a twelve mile stretch in the middle of nowhere near Aubrey Falls. I think they said they wanted to check the durability of pavement ina harsh climate.

Over the years Highway 129 was improved, but to me at least, it was always an adventure to travel it. By the Sixties, Highway 101 had been completed between Chapleau and Timmins and Wawa. However, the Ramsey Road continues to be a project unfulfilled for at least the past 50 years as promises are made and then broken to finally complete it.

However, Tom Godfrey Sr. and all those pioneer community builders deserve much credit, even to this day, on their efforts to open Chapleau to the outside world.

Just a note to express my thanks to all those who have been sending me emails about Chapleau Moments. So much appreciated and I am delighted to hear from all of you.My email is mj.morris@live.ca.