JOSEF ŠTĚP (1863–1926)
Activity in Jáchymov
Josef Štěp came to Jáchymov in 1896, when he began working at the Werner mine as a mining officer. Over time he held various positions in the mining administration and became one of the most important figures of the local mining industry. In 1920 he was appointed ministerial councillor.
Among miners he was highly respected and was often called the “father of mining”. He was also popular among the wider population of the town, both Czech and German.
Promoter of Radium and Spa Development
Štěp was among the early advocates of using radium and radon water for medical treatment. Through his lectures he helped shape the development of Jáchymov as a spa town.
His lectures attracted attention not only in Jáchymov but also in Prague and Vienna. In 1909 even the British king Edward VII visited Jáchymov specifically to attend one of Štěp’s lectures. In 1912 these lectures were published in book form under the title Das Radium und seine Eigenschaften.
Štěp was also involved in scientific and technical work. He constructed a device called a spinathariscope, which allowed the observation of alpha particles produced during radioactive decay.
The Daniel Adit Water Project
In 1908 Minister Buquoy entrusted Štěp with capturing the springs in the Daniel adit and building a water pipeline. The water was led to the mouth of the adit, which today lies beneath the area of a modern roundabout.
After the completion of the works a celebration took place at the adit entrance. Štěp later recalled that they were welcomed by a miners’ band and the greeting Glückauf echoed from many voices.
Later Life
Later Štěp moved to Příbram but maintained strong ties with Jáchymov. When he retired in 1924, a delegation from Jáchymov consisting of the mayor, town councillors and ceremonially dressed miners came to bid him farewell.
Death and Legacy
Josef Štěp died in 1926. The municipal council of Jáchymov ordered mourning flags to be displayed throughout the town, and a delegation from Jáchymov attended his funeral in Příbram.
A street in Jáchymov was named after him and the local newspaper published his obituary. Because the newspaper was German-language, reflecting the composition of the town’s population, Štěp became the only Czech in the town’s history to receive this honour.
