History Mystery

How did Alcohol Road in Wrenshall get its name? That's this week's History Mystery question.

Alcohol Road is still used as an address for residents and businesses although the road is officially called County State Aid Highway 51 today. (But not according to Google Maps, as seen in the photograph here.)

We called City Hall, which sits on the road in question. City clerk Alieca Johnson said there are plenty of tales about how the road acquired its unique name. "Depends on who you ask," she said.

She said she has understood that the name goes back to the brickyard days when there were plenty of workers in town and there was a bar at the corner of today's county roads 1 and 51. Makes sense. But why name the road "Alcohol?" Was it a joke or nomenclature with a smirk that just stuck?

We have a few inquiries with some old-timers and will report back.

Do you know how it got its name? Email us at news@

PineKnotNews.com or calling 218-216-6292. We'll toast whoever provides us with some clues.