George Johnston lived in Teslin, Yukon Territory. George recorded Teslin on film. And George provided Teslin with the “Teslin Taxi”.
In 1940 the tiny village housed about 130 Tlingit natives and a few white homesteaders and prospectors. Its name came from the Tlingit word meaning long narrow water. A Tlingit Elder, George documented his community in a brilliant collection of photographs reminiscent of some of the best depression era photography anywhere. You can see the collection today at the George Johnston Museum in Teslin.
On impulse, George would grab his camera and photograph whatever a neighbor might be doing. And he captured the heart and soul of his unique community, captured it just in the nick of time, just before the Alaska Highway changed Teslin forever.
But George provided far more to the community of Teslin than just his photography. George provided the “Teslin Taxi”.
Teslin had no roads in 1928, no roads even led to Teslin—from anywhere. No matter. George bought himself a brand new four-door Chevrolet anyway. The dealer loaded the car on the steamboat Thistle, sailed it down the Yukon River, up the Teslin River and across Teslin Lake to its proud new owner.
To use the car, George needed a road. And George built one—a primitive four mile stretch through Teslin. Car plus road equaled “Teslin Taxi” and George provided rides for the curious at a dollar a head.
George’s four miles eventually became part of the Alaska Highway.
Selling rides to his neighbors took care of summer. In fall he painted the car camo and went hunting. In winter he painted it white and travelled up and down Teslin Lake on the ice—a Chevrolet fishing shanty.
