Craig road
In august of 1810, the Canadian Governor, James Henry Craig, ordered the construction of a road hoping to encourage the settlement of British colonists on the uninhabited lands of the Eastern Townships and to promote commercial exchange between Quebec and Boston. About two hundred soldiers of the Quebec garrison worked on the construction of the road, cutting down trees, digging trenches, drying up swamps and building bridges.
Three months later, a road spanning 120 kilometres, accessible by carriage only, connected Saint-Gilles and Richmond. In spite of tree stumps, boulders and swampland, Craig road could accommodate a 6-day stagecoach service between Quebec City and Boston. The service ran on a regular basis during the winter months but access by carriage became difficult, sometimes impossible during the other seasons.
The Boston stagecoach only arrived on Tuesday night in Quebec City. It was delayed due to the poor condition of the roads brought on by the early start of spring in the south. From Boston to approximately 70 miles from Quebec City, the snow has melted completely, the earth has thawed, the rivers are spilling their banks, streams and flatlands have been flooded and the roads through the forests are obstructed by fallen trees due to the last strong winds. (Quebec Gazette, March 28, 1811).
During the War of 1812 between Great Britain and the United States, Craig road became a possible entry point for the American army to invade Canada. Several bridges located along that road were deliberately destroyed and maintenance was neglected. In 1829, Craig road is declared impassable especially in the regions of Inverness and Halifax. For almost thirty years, it remains the only road that passes through the Inverness Township and crosses the Megantic County.
Panoramic view of Craig road located in the heart of the Appalachians at an altitude of 469 metres (Picture by Gilles Pelletier).
