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George Johnston's Ice Highway Car2
George Johnston1948
Teslin, Yukon
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George Johnston was born around 1884 in the Nakina/Taku River drainage area near Juneau, Alaska.4
Map showing location of Teslin, Yukon, in northwestern Canada.9 January 2004
Canadian Northwest and Alaska
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George moved to the Teslin Lake area as a young boy and grew up immersed in Tlingit culture.6
George Johnston and nephew Matthew Jackson.1915
Juneau, Alaska
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He followed traditional pursuits of hunting and trapping.8
Edward Jack of Atlin and George Johnston with pelts.1920
Teslin Region
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George Johnston is venerated by his community for his many fine qualities such as being true to the old ways, being inventive, and having an enterprising spirit. While his many skills included snowshoe making and boat building, he stands out in history for two passions: his car and his photography.10
Cars for sale outside Taylor and Drury Store.1928
Whitehorse, Yukon
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On a trip to Whitehorse to pick up supplies, after a particularly successful fur trapping season in 1928, he bought a four-door, four-cylinder model AB Chevrolet sedan for $1172.50 from the Taylor and Drury store.12
Taylor and Drury's pocket sternwheeler 'Thistle'.1929
Teslin Lake
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Charlie Taylor, the store owner, gave Johnston a hasty driving lesson at the local airstrip. George loaded his new car aboard a barge to be pushed to home by the department store's "pocket sternwheeler" the Thistle.14
Map of the Canadian Yukon and Northern Territory of British Columbia, 1897.1897
Teslin Region
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