Thomas Johnson was born in Norway. He was an architect and contractor in Bemidji. He was an early resident. He was married on Oct 6, 1900 to Bertha Hagen, who had arrived in Bemidji about 1897. In 1905, the family was living\u00a0at 1001 Minnesota Avenue.\u00a0His wife Bertha died suddenly on Nov 22, 1907. The funeral was conducted at the Norwegian Lutheran church. Rev. Stromme spoke in the Scandinavian language and Rev. White gave an address in English. The members of the Norwegian Lutheran Ladies Aid Society attended service in a body and acted as escort to the cemetery. The members of the Scandinavian Sick Benefit Society also attended the service. Both societies gave handsome floral tributes, which were placed upon the casket. Thomas was left with five motherless children. \u00a0By 1910, he was living with\u00a0his three daughters, Myrtle, Elizabeth and Otelie in\u00a0the house at 1001 Minnesota Avenue.<\/p>\n
According to a note in the souvenir edition of the Bemidji Pioneer\u00a0on March 27,\u00a01909: “Mr. Johnson \u00a0never subordinates skill to cost. He does not pose as\u00a0a bidder for third-rate work, and his reputation throughout this section of Minnesota conveys an idea as to how highly he is\u00a0rated in his craft. He constructed the\u00a0Charles Nangle building, the Northland\u00a0Cold Storage Plant, and of residences he\u00a0has built as many as would count to hundreds in number, the same costing from\u00a0$1,000 to $6,000.”<\/p>\n
In August 1909, Mr. Johnson was awarded the contract for the new Carnegie Library.\u00a0The site which was provided by\u00a0the city was at the corner of Fifth\u00a0street and Lake Boulevard, within\u00a0the limits of the city park — an ideal\u00a0location for a library building. The newspaper touted: “The new building will be imposing\u00a0in appearance and will add greatly\u00a0to the pretentious-blocks of the city.\u00a0It will be one story high, with\u00a0full basement, the latter to be\u00a0faced with Bedford stone, the upper\u00a0structure to be built entirely of\u00a0Twin City pressed brick.\u00a0The building will be of colonial\u00a0design, the front to be beautified\u00a0with two large columns of Bedford\u00a0stone, with ornamental caps, and an\u00a0ornamental gable piece.\u00a0Over the lobby, a dome will be\u00a0built, resting on four large ornamental columns, which will lend solidity\u00a0to the whole scheme of the building.\u00a0The woodwork on the interior will\u00a0be finished in red oak.”<\/p>\n
In 1912, Thomas Johnson was the contractor for the new Kelliher Hotel owned by George Gunderson. “The new Hotel Kelliher\u00a0will be formally opened to\u00a0the public tomorrow evening. The\u00a0event of the evening is to be a dinner\u00a0followed by a ball in the spacious\u00a0dining room. The Blackduck orchestra of eight pieces has been engaged\u00a0to furnish the music during the evening.\u00a0The hotel is located one block\u00a0from the Minnesota and International depot and is situated in the heart\u00a0of the Kelliher business district.” (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, Feb 21, 1912)<\/p>\n
In 1917, Thomas Johnson was the architect for the remodeling and alterations in Bemidji’s\u00a0Central School Building.<\/p>\n
In 1919, Thomas Johnson returned from Washington, D. C.\u00a0where he had been\u00a0in the government service\u00a0during the war period. Mr. Johnson\u00a0was engaged in the contracting and\u00a0architect business before leaving for\u00a0Washington. (Nov 6, 1919)<\/p>\n
Thomas Johnson died in December 1921 and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery.<\/p>\n
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