The Japanese House

Ed note: some bloggers were commenting on about the house that Phil Keane was “Protecting” in his story below “Phil Keane Jr. Writes about Suzie.” Thinking together, they figured out it was the Johnstone house on Neptune Walk. Here is how their chain of consciousness spun out of control:

Jon Lyon sez: I Know the house, on Neptune, a few homes north of Corkscrews. The wife was Japanese which explains (I guess) the tea house. I think I considered making off with some available firewood from there on a cold autumn night, but shied away when Chief Dwight Isaakson just happened by (now that's a name from the past). Hello Dwight, just ignore me as I slither by with that wagon trailing behind me.

Phil Keane sez: The woman was not Japanese, she was a free spirited older woman with long flowing grey hair, what Stevie Nicks probably looks like now, spinning and shit. She and her husband were very artsy types.

Dwight was never a cop, just head lifeguard, too easy going of a guy for the seedier side of Saltaire. This occurred while Dunleavy was still at the helm, after the first summer of that famous trio of peace officers, Noel, Harry, and myself appeared on the scene. (Picture on request)

JO'H adds: The Tea House: a mystic lady named Johnstone.

Phil sez: You are probably right, now that I hear the name. He was a grumpy guy as I recall. I couldnt remember the people who's house it was I watched.They were a nice older couple. They were the first with a tea house in back and I think the Corrigans later built next to them. I cant remember the walk name either. East side of the ball fields?

Ed: Can't remember the name of the boardwalks? You have been away too long.

Jon: Dwight was never a cop, just head lifeguard, too easy going of a guy for the seedier side of Saltaire. This occurred while Dunleavy was still at the helm, after the first summer of that famous trio of peace officers, Noel, Harry, and myself appeared on the scene. (Picture on request)

Phil sez: I dont know, they didnt seem like the corporate type at all, she was kind of mystical. I didnt know they had children. The tea house was behind their house, NE corner, about as big as Jon's backhouse. Now theres a story. If Jon's backhouse is ever torn down you could smoke the 2x4 studs and roof joists and catch a hell of a buzz. Or build a sauna with them...

OUR HERO, COSMO HAS THE LAST, DEFINITIVE WORD:

cosmo sez:

I became very close to the Johnstones when they were alive. Bill Johnstone was  the first attorney and senior vice president for Bethlehem Steel since the  twenties.  Milly and Bill were very  wealthy, and brought the tea school to New  York, buying a former 100 plus year old equestrian unit of the NYPD, bought a  tea house and garden in  Japan for a fortune, and had it moved and reconstructed  in the old police building exactly as it had been in Japan.  Their son George  was one of the greatest photographers of our time, and would go deep into areas  of the planet that no white man had previously gone, later bringing with him the  leaders of the Travel industry who would open the areas to tourism.  George was  married to Lo, who was Chinese, and she still summers in Saltaire with her son  Tommy.          Cosmo