Person

Johannsen, Jackrabbit, 1875-1987

• Smith-Johannsen, Herman, 1875-1987
• Johannsen, Herman Smith-, 1875-1987

1875-1987

Herman Smith-Johannsen was a pioneer in the sport of skiing in Quebec. He laid hundreds of miles of cross country ski trails in the Laurentian mountains north of Montreal and was involved in cross country skiing marathons even into his 107th year. He had some involvement in downhill skiing, encouraging his children to become involved at the Olympic level.

Herman was born in Norway on the 15th of June, 1875. He spent some time as a cadet in the Royal Norwegian Army Reserve before going on to the University of Berlin to study engineering in 1894. As a student he joined the fratetrnity, Berolina, adopting its motto "never rest and never rust" and acquiring the nickname "Jonas".

On a visit to Norway in 1987, he died of pneumonia on January 5th at the age of 111. His ashes were flown back to Canada so that he could be buried next to his wife, Alice according to his last request. The graves, in the cemetery at the church of St. Francis of the Birds in St. Sauveur, are marked by a granite boulder bearing their names and dates.

He arrived in the United States in 1901 to begin work at the Cleveland branch of The Brown Hoist Machinery Company. It was with this company that he travelled north and met the Cree Indians. They were so impressed with his method of travel - skiing - that they called him Okamacum Wapooes or Jackrabbit. While he was with the Brown Company, he met Alice Robinson (1882-1963), a kindergarten teacher whom he married on June 29th, 1907. In the mean time (1905), Herman had become a representative for the Browning Engineering Company and by the time he married, represented a number of other firms. As part of this line of work, he and Alice travelled throughout the United States and Canada selling machinery. In 1907 he set himself up as an independent agent selling machinery.

In 1908, the Johannsens moved to Cuba, staying for three years until just after the birth of their first child, Alice, in 1911. In 1912, after a recuperation period in Norway, they returned to the United States and settled in New York for ten years, where two more children, Robert (Bob) and Margaret (Peggy) were born. Alice married R.S. Turnham and had no children. The third child, Margaret, married Peter Austin and had two children, Bob and Karen.

Herman had visited Canada as early as 1902 and in 1919 he set up an office in Montreal. In 1922, Herman moved his family to Lake Placid and commuted to Montreal weekly. In 1928, the family moved to Westmount, and began spending much of their free time in the Laurentian ski areas north of Montreal.

The stock market crash of 1929 devastated the assets of the Johannsens. The family left Westmount for Shawbridge in the Laurentians. Herman maintained that the loss of his afluent lifestyle was a turning point in his life (Globe and Mail, August 28th, 1982)

Herman became famous for his determined longevity, continued skiing abilities and for his cheerful enthusiasm for skiing and a natural, healthy way of life. In 1969, at the age of 94, Herman was hearty enough to work his passage to Norway aboard the freighter Topdalsfjiord. He received the Order of Canada in 1972, and in 1974, the NFB made a film about him called "Jackrabbit". In 1975, Brian Powell published a compilation called Jackrabbit: the first hundred years. This was a series of recollections written by friends and collected by Powell, a long time friend. Herman appeared on several radio and television shows including "Front Page Challenge" and "Fresh Air". In this year, Johannsen took another trip to his native Norway; this time, though, it was on a cruise ship.

In 1992, the year of her death, Herman's daughter, Alice Johannsen, published The Legendary Jackrabbit Johannsen (McGill-Queen's University Press).