BY: BG EDITOR
Sep 01, 2018 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)
Today we introduce another of the important personalities who came to Greenwood in the late 1800s. Mr. Paul Johnson helped to build a mining boom town, which grew up around the smelter operation he was in charge of constructing.
Paul Johnson arrived in Greenwood in the Spring of 1899 and immediately became one of the town's most notable citizens. Employed by the B.C. Copper Company, he arrived here after working on a similar smelter project for the Guggenheim family, in Mexico.
Johnson's work on the Greenwood smelter, which served the Mother Lode and other mining sites, became a central point of focus for Greenwood. His expertise in the construction of smelters and his reasoned opinions on mining operations in general quickly made him one of the town's leading voices. In fact, so popular was Mr. Johnson that it seems his word became something of a 'gold standard' for opinions on many subjects.
Paul Johnson remained in Greenwood from 1899 until 1910, when he departed for another smelter project in Hadley, Alaska. Over the course of his twelve years here, we find many highlights of his personal and professional story in the local papers. Before getting into the details, we will begin with this excellent report, published in a special feature edition of the Greenwood Times in October 1900 [1]:
PAUL JOHNSON
Manager and Superintendent of the British Columbia
Copper Co., Ltd. Smelter Works
"There is no position connected with mining on which rests more responsibility, and the demands of which are, more exacting, than that of constructing manager and superintendent of a smelter works. Under his directions the building is constructed, the machinery is put in place, and on his knowledge and experience depends the success of the plant as well as the returns from an investment reaching into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Among the smelter experts of British Columbia, few, if indeed any, have had a wider or more valuable experience in his line than the subject of this sketch, Mr. Paul Johnson, manager and superintendent of the British Columbia Copper Co., Ltd., smelter works, now under construction in this city.
Mr. Johnson is a graduate of the school of practical experience, having made a life's study of copper properties, and is today considered to be one of the best posted smelter men on the continent. This gentleman is a native of Sweden, going from his land of birth first to Germany, then to the United States, and for over twenty years since that time has been building and superintending different smelters and copper plants.
His first engagement after going to the United States was with the Oreford Copper Co., in New York. From there he accepted a position with the Ely Copper and Smelting Co., of Vermont. After filling this position for a number of years, with credit to himself and profit for the company, he was induced to accept a position as assistant superintendent at the Li Paso Smelting Works, in Texas.
From there he was superintendent for the Kansas City Smelting and Refining Co. While managing this property he was induced to undertake the construction of the Ibex Smelter in Utah. After constructing this smelter, he built the Hall Mines Smelter, at Nelson, which was the first copper smelting works erected in British Columbia, and from there undertook the management of the Guggenheim Smelting Co's, plant at Agues Culientes, Old Mexico. After getting this property in excellent condition, he was induced to go to California, and there constructed the California Smelting Co's works, and when the British Columbia Copper Co., Ltd., decided to construct their plant in this city Mr. Johnson was engaged to build and superintend this plant, which he is now engaged upon.
Mr. Johnson met his fate some seven years ago in New York and was married there, and now has two lovely daughters. His residence and office is located in Greenwood, close to the smelter he is constructing, and which is now ready for the machinery, which is expected to arrive at any time. Mr. Johnson expects to have this plant in operation by the first or middle of December of the present year.
Mr. Johnson's wide acquaintance with mining men, and his native suavity and agreeable manners, have made for him many friends and his popularity in Greenwood is beyond dispute. His varied experiences in mining and his knowledge of the great smelting industry in all its phases, make him a very entertaining and instructive talker and his social disposition brings him into ready touch with his fellows. The Review, in wishing this gentleman many years continuance of his chosen occupation, utters the sentiment of the entire community."
(To be continued…)
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