Paul Arthur Schoellkopf (March 7, 1884 – September 30, 1947) was an American industrialist and the third generation of Schoellkopfs to manage the hydroelectric power plants of Niagara Falls. Schoellkopf served as chairman of the Buffalo Niagara Electric Corporation and was a trustee of Cornell University.[1]
After graduation, he entered the family business and in 1913, succeeded his father as general manager and treasurer of the Hydraulic Power Company of Niagara Falls. When the company merged with the Niagara Falls Power Company in 1919, Schoellkopf became president of the combined organization. He held that position until his death in 1947.[1]
In 1925, the Niagara Falls Power Company joined with other operating western New York utilities to form the Buffalo, Niagara and Eastern Power Corporation, with Schoellkopf as president. He held this position until 1929 when he was elected chairman of the board of directors. Also in 1929, several major utility companies serving a large part of New York were merged into the Niagara Hudson Power Company,[2] which Schoellkopf served as president[3] until 1933.[1]
In 1945, when several of the operating companies of the western division of Niagara Hudson were consolidated into the Buffalo Niagara Electric Corporation, he became chairman of the board.[1]
He was also chairman of the board of the Power City Bank in Niagara Falls and president of the Niagara Junction Railway Company, the Lewiston Heights Company, the Gluck Realty Company, the Cliff Paper Company, the Niagara Falls Milling Company, the Frontier Corporation, and the St. Lawrence Security Corporation.[1]
Schoellkopf, along with Frank A. Dudley and Afred W. Gray, financed the "Lewiston Heights" neighborhood, part of which was transferred to the Niagara Falls Country Club for their move to Lewiston.[4] At one time Schoellkopf, Dudley, and Gray owned all the land at "Lewiston Heights." Both Dudley and Schoellkopf built mansions on the escarpment[5] (Dudley at 551 Mountain View[6] and Schoellkopf at 583 Mountain View[7]).
Personal life
Schoellkopf had two children:
Jasmin (Schoellkopf) Boissier (1913–2008), who married Andre Boissier[1]
Paul A. Schoellkopf Jr. (1916-2000), who married Jane F. Murray[1]
Schoellkopf died, aged 63, at Buffalo General Hospital on September 30, 1947. At his death, the gross value of his estate was $2,552,734 (equivalent to $34,833,000 in 2023) and the net value was $2,460,634 (equivalent to $33,576,000 in 2023). The principal beneficiaries were his wife and his two children.[8]
