The founders of T&D's store were two of the best-known figures in the Yukon's history. Isaac Taylor and William Drury began their partnership in June 1899, operating first from a tent in Discovery near Atlin. Over the years the company grew into the vast merchandising establishment it is today.
To hundreds of Yukoners, "Taylor & Drury" means "the store." The names also symbolise a life-long friendship and partnership between the two pioneer storemen. The stores themselves will stand as tribute to the astute judgment of the founders, who realized a thriving business could be built in the north at a time when most other people
were rushing to the gold fields.
Isaac Taylor, who died June 12 in his 95th year, was born in Yorkshire, England. As a young man he went to Australia for his health, remaining to prove his enterprising spirit by owning a sheep ranch within a few years. When news of the gold rush broke, he came to
Canada, arriving in Vancouver in March 1898.
Born in Lincolnshire, England in 1870, William Drury learned the
shoemaking trade in his native country and several years before the gold rush came to Canada intending to settle in Ontario. For some years he followed his trade in Whitby, Ontario and early in 1898 he set off for the Klondike.
Mr. Drury left the east with five other men, arriving at Ashcroft to
follow the "poor man's route" as the Ashcroft Trail was called. This led to Telegraph Creek and it was just outside there, on September 3, 1898 that the two men met.
They parted company that fall, with Mr. Taylor going to Skagway and Mr. Drury staying to spend the winter in Atlin. During a stampede out of Atlin the next spring, the pair met once more.
Until very close to the end of his life, the late Mr. Taylor would recall
in detail exactly how the partnership started, sixty years ago.
According to his account, Mr. Drury said, "Taylor, how would you like to make some money?"
"That's what I'm here for," replied Mr. Taylor.
"Well," said Mr. Drury, "if you're agreeable, you go around and buy up these outfits the fellows are selling. These outfits will be required by new prospectors coming in and we'll be in business."
And so they were. They first set up in a tent and with profits from the first season bought supplies from British American Corporation in Atlin, hauling this to the creeks for resale to the miners.
With canny knowledge of the great law of supply and demand, the two made their start by paying five dollars for gear from disillusioned stampeders leaving the north and selling the same outfits for $25.00 to new hopefuls on their way to the gold fields.
In addition to the first tent store at Discovery, the early-day T&D stores also appeared at Atlin and Bennett City, but with completion of the White Pass in 1900, there was no longer any traffic at Bennett so the versatile company of two moved to Whitehorse in August, once more in a tent.
Business continued to flourish and soon the storemen were set up in a properly constructed building, located on Front Street near the Windsor Hotel. This building, along with all the others in the block, went up in smoke in the fire of 1905.
Taylor & Drury's next place of business was farther north on Front Street, about where the present store is. Continued expansion was the rule and in 1901 the firm started their first fur post at the confluence of Hootalinqua and Yukon rivers. In later years, the firm had a total of thirteen branch stores and fur posts.
The farthest-away post was at Pelly Banks, 600 miles from Whitehorse. A small fleet of river boats, including the Kluahne and Yukon Rose, were used to deliver merchandise to the posts.
About this time there were issued the famous Taylor & Drury trade coins, which the Indians regarded as the only real money, because it didn't wear out as did paper (or steamboat) money. There was just one issue of coins for a total of $10,000 and in 1942 the company stopped using this "Ross River money."
It was Mr. Drury's part of the business to look after the branch stores and the fur trade, while Mr. Taylor took care of the stores in Mayo and Whitehorse. Mr. Drury was active in the partnership until his death in September 1953.
Mr. Taylor too remained alert until very near the end of his long life, even journeying to Europe on a polar flight when he was 90.
