Thursday, March 06 2008
The following article was written about Charlie Johnson, a different kind of cigar fanatic - one who has more of an appreciation for cigar boxes than cigars. Since he gets most of his cigar boxes from Famous Smoke Shop, I thought he was entitled to some well-deserved props. - G.K.
Sequim man collects, donates beautiful boxes
By Avani Nadkarni
Staff writer, The Sequim Gazette (WA)
He isn't one to light up a cigar, but Charlie Johnson said he's fascinated by the decorated wooden packages they come in.
"I've always liked wood," explained Johnson, who worked in the United States plywood industry for almost 30 years.
The interest in wood, plus his artistic daughter's talent for creating personalized treasures out of empty cigar boxes, prompted Johnson's cigar box collection seven years ago.
"It's a beauty," he said, indicating a pile of boxes neatly arranged on his dining table, just a few of the more than 100 he said he owns. "It turns out so many people like to look at them."
The boxes come from all over the world but mostly Atlantic Ocean islands such as Cuba, Dominican Republic, Trinidad or Tobago. Johnson said although he has picked up a few during his travels in the U.S. and abroad, he mostly orders the boxes from companies in Pennsylvania and Florida.
"Sometimes if I go to a restaurant I'll ask if they have empty cigar boxes," he said. "I've gotten one in Sequim, a few elsewhere, but mostly I order them."
After receiving them, Johnson carefully peels off the government stamp label and the "Smoking is hazardous to your health" label, generally using his wife Janet's hairdryer and adhesive remover.
The boxes come in all sizes, shapes and decorations; Johnson even has a single-cigar holder. Many have intricate decorations on the front, such as a depiction of Havana, Cuba, or have velvet lining on the inside.
Although Johnson keeps many of his beloved boxes, as Janet explained, "Charlie shares his treasures."
Janet recalls her husband giving a couple boxes to their United Parcel Service driver, who came back the next time with nothing but raves.
"The driver said, 'My little boy loves them!'" Janet recalled. "Kids love the boxes."
For that reason, Johnson also donates the prettier colored boxes to children's organizations — he gave several to Girl Scouts last year and said they made jewelry boxes out of them. Johnson regularly donates boxes to day cares in the area, including Bibity Bobity Child Care in Carlsborg.
"They're wonderful," said Bibity Bobity director Ann Chihan. "We do a lot of things with them. We store toys in them, the kids do art projects with them, or we make treasure chests out of them and go on treasure hunts."
The Johnsons' daughter Gwen Olsen runs a part-time business, Art in a Cigar Box, from her Millbrook, Calif., home. She's given many to her parents, who keep them displayed prominently above the television set.
"She gave us one for our anniversary," Janet said, opening up a decorated box. The box is filled with memories, including a $2 bill, a homage to Johnson's habit of giving each of his children a $2 bill for good luck, and a smattering of tiny perfume bottles, a representation of Janet's own collection. "There isn't one thing in here that isn't related to family."
Johnson said that while it may seem like an odd collection for some people, everyone who sees the boxes loves them.
"I get calls now and then saying, 'Mr. Johnson my sister lives (in your neighborhood) and I'm from out of town and I hear you have cigar boxes,'" Johnson said, laughing. "So I pull one out for them and they enjoy it." £
Above photo by Avani Nadkarni
