The poker game's had reached the level of placing a beautiful point of land on Blackstone as the stake. Joseph Britton vs
Harold Brear. Mr. Britton being the president of the Britton Iron
Steel Co. of Cleveland and father-in-law of Deforest L Selover who owned Oriole Is right by the land being gambled. Mr. Brear who had recently bought on the lake being a department store salesman and real estate investor. Joseph got the better of
Harold and quickly sold the parcel of land. The new owner resold the 2.5 acres in 1949 to George F B Johnson.
The Johnson's old money comes from George's great grandfather, Samuel Sr. (b 1792 Salem, Massachusetts). Samuel, himself descended from Salem merchants, diversified as a Boston dry goods merchant and became very successful with JC Howe and Co. that he was connected to thru his wife. He set up his sons …show more content…
Winifred VanKoughnett, who had being living in Buffalo since the age of seven in an agreement between her family and the Balcoms, fell for Robert Curtis Tracy (b 1926). As the wedding was held in Buffalo Winifred sister Maud Jennings along with her husband Earl and their three children visited Buffalo to attend. This family of four was put up by George and Isabelle.
Soon after the Johnson's daughter Georgia married the Buffalo lawyer and significant squash player Montgomery Gerrans Pooley (b 1916) on September 17,1954 they became owners of the just under 2 acre parcel of land on Blackstone adjoined to the south of her parents. They had constructed a small cabin in the sheltered bay on their south shore adjoining her parents property, christening it Needle Eye.
When Oriole Island, 300 m due north of Needle Point burnt in 1966 the Johnsons took a photo to capture the tragedy. In the smoke plume that rose over the island there was another — that made up of bats. This photo graced the Johnson's mantle place for many years.
Mystery At Blackstone