The History of Corned Beef Junction

According to Island residents, the story goes something like this . . .

​The intersection was named back in the days when Johnswood was hopping and the logging industry was in full-swing, complete with rail lines that ran through this end of the Island. There were two steam engines running the rails and logging camps dotted the woods. Many families lived in the area - all working either in the logging industry or at the large saw mill on the bay.

One fine day a family was hauling big barrels of corned beef in salt brine on a wagon. The wagon was involved in an accident, tipped over and spilt the corned beef/salt brine all over the road at that intersection. The story says that deer could be seen there licking the salt for the next year or more. The corner from then on was called Cornbeef Junction! 

​Another version of the same story has the corned beef brine barrels being carried on the trains that ran out that way. The trains were involved in an accident at the intersection with the same results as mentioned in the wagon story. Either way - it makes for a great tale, eh?!

Written by Candis Colick, Drummond Island resident.

Please do not take the sign as a momento of your travels. Yes, it has happened in the past.