CAL JOHNSON. AN EARLY BLACK ENTREPRENEUR IN KNOXVILLE

by Ron Allen

_________________________________

An article in Knoxville's daily newspaper (late February, 2006) -- written in that newspaper's annual series in connection with "Black History Month" -- concerns the life and activities of Caldonia ("Cal") Cackler Johnson, who was perhaps the most wealthy and influential African American in Knoxville in the late nineteenth and earlier twentieth century. The article naturally mentions some of Johnson's accomplishments. However, (and likely unknown to the writer of that article) in some instances readers continued to be provided with incomplete information. To correct those errors, and add a bit more information about Cal Johnson, I offer the following. These facts were gleaned through the author's personal research, and some of these comments have already been contained in books I've written.

Cal Johnson did indeed own the race track in East Knoxville. That track was originally completed in November, 1896, on land owned by Cal Johnson. Races at the track were first held in 1897, under the auspices of the East Tennessee Fair Association, which leased the track from Johnson. In 1908, the track was still called Cal Johnson's Track, That year, the East Tennessee Track Association had an option to purchase the track from Johnson, for the price of $15,000.00. Later, the track later was known as Speedway Circle.

Cal Johnson also owned another race track in Knoxville. It was located south of the river, at the bottom of the hill, between what then was called Sevierville Pike and the river, and east of the slaughter house. The track had been in existence since the early 1880's, originally built in connection with a Knoxville Fair. Cal Johnson had acquired the property at least as early as 1893, when the Journal reported on October 21 that the fall meet of the Queen City wheelmen would be held at Cal Johnson's south Knoxville track the following week. The following year, Johnson leased the track to the Knoxville Jockey Club, or Knoxville Driving Park Association, in 1894, for a period of three years. It was known Cal Johnson's Race Track, although occasionally local newspapers referred to it as the South Side Track. It was also the site of racing events by bicyclists, or "Wheelmen". the site of early twentieth century. Johnson's South Knoxville Track had a large grandstand. The site continued in existence at least until around World War One or so. It was the site of local interscholastic track meets from 1912 to 1917, sponsored by the University of Tennessee. Illustrations in the University of Tennessee Magazine - Historical Edition (Volume 30, No. 9, 1921), on pages 472 and 474, show photographs taken at track meets held at Johnson's Track, and are the only photos I've come across that depict the grounds, including the grandstand, at the track.

The aforementioned 2006 newspaper article mentions that Cal Johnson's East Knoxville race track was Knoxville only race track. In fact, besides Johnson's second race track in South Knoxville, described above, there were several other race tracks in Knox County. Brief descriptions of those tracks will be found under the article "Race Tracks in Knoxville", here on my web site.

Cal Johnson operated two saloons in Knoxville. In 1884, his saloon was located at number one West Vine Street, at the corner of Vine and Central. The city directory that year shows that while the saloon was listed as the Cal Johnson Saloon, the business was actually owned and/or operated both by Johnson and Charles C. Scott, also an African American. By 1895, Johnson's operated a saloon located at the southwest corner of Vine and Gay Street. Johnson also owned a building on State Street, near Commerce Avenue. Another of Cal Johnson's enterprises was a hitch and livery stable that was located on Central street, a bit south of his saloon at the corner of Vine and Central.

Perhaps the above doesn't add much information to what has already written about Cal Johnson, but if nothing else it does verify such things as the existence of his second race track, the fact that he owned a stable on Central street, and that he also was once a sometimes jockey, riding his own race horses in local racing events.

____________________________