Cal Johnson (businessman) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cal Johnson
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| Born | October 14, 1844 |
| Died | April 7, 1925 (aged 80) |
| Resting place | Odd Fellows Cemetery, Knoxville |
| Occupation | Saloon owner, racetrack owner |
| Parent(s) | Cupid and Harriett Johnson |
Caldonia (or Calvin) Fackler Johnson (born October 14, 1844 – died April 7, 1925) was an important American businessman. He was also a kind person who gave money to good causes (a philanthropist). Cal Johnson lived and worked mostly in Knoxville, Tennessee. This was during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
He was born into slavery. Despite this, he became a very successful owner of a racetrack and popular gathering places (saloons) in Knoxville. When he passed away, he was one of the richest African-American businessmen in Tennessee. Cal Johnson also owned many fast racehorses. One of his horses even set a world speed record in 1893!
Contents
Cal Johnson's Life Story
Early Life and Family
Cal Johnson was born in 1844 in Knoxville, Tennessee. His birthplace was a house on Gay Street and Church Avenue. His mother, Harriett Johnson (1813–1894), was enslaved by Charles McClung. His father, Cupid Johnson (1809–1858), was enslaved by Hugh Lawson McClung. Hugh was Charles's son.
Cupid Johnson was well-known as a horse trainer and jockey. He greatly influenced Cal's love for horses. Harriett, Cal's mother, worked in homes. She could also read and write. After the Civil War, she ran a hotel and a grocery store. As a teenager, Cal worked at the McClung family's estate. This was in Campbell's Station, which is now Farragut. There, he took care of the family's horses.
During the Civil War, Cal became friends with Patrick Sullivan. Sullivan was a famous Knoxville business owner. Cal helped Sullivan send messages to his family while Sullivan was away fighting.
Becoming a Businessman
After the war, Cal Johnson helped move soldiers' bodies. They were taken from temporary graves to proper cemeteries. He faced tough times and struggled to make money. Eventually, he found work as a bartender.
In 1879, he used his savings to rent a business place. It was a popular gathering spot at Gay and Vine streets. By the mid-1880s, he had saved about $20,000. He then bought that business. He also bought two more similar businesses. One was at Vine and Central, and another at Gay and Wall. By the early 1900s, his business at Gay and Vine was very popular. It was first called the Poplar Log, then later the Lone Tree.
Public Service and Horse Racing
Cal Johnson also served on Knoxville's city council. He was an alderman from 1883 to 1885. An alderman is a member of the city's government. He also started buying fast racehorses. He traveled to watch races all over the Southern United States.
In 1893, one of his horses made history. It broke a world speed record at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Johnson also built Knoxville's only racetrack. It was located near Chilhowee Park. Today, that track is a street called Speedway Circle.
Later Years and Giving Back
In 1907, Knoxville passed a law called a prohibition ordinance. This law made many businesses, including Johnson's, close down. The next year, Johnson opened one of Knoxville's first movie theaters. But this business did not succeed.
In 1910, a special event called the Appalachian Exposition took place. For this event, Johnson cut down a large tree at his racetrack. This allowed the first airplane to ever visit Knoxville to land there. Later, he gave a house to help start the city's African-American YMCA. When he died in 1925, he was a very wealthy man. His fortune was estimated to be between $300,000 and $500,000.
Cal Johnson's Lasting Impact
The Cal Johnson Building
In 1898, Cal Johnson built a large warehouse. It was a three-story building on State Street in downtown Knoxville. This building is now known as the Cal Johnson Building. It is an important part of the Gay Street Commercial Historic District. This district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cal Johnson Park
In 1922, the city created a park for its African-American residents. They named it Cal Johnson Park to honor him. Johnson donated a concrete fountain and a special arched entrance for the park. These features are no longer there. In 1957, the city built the Cal Johnson Recreation Center inside the park.
