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BY SKIDDY
PHOTOS BY: JOSH BECKER
In the winter of 1985, Jim Phillips Sr. exited his house during the middle
of the night. It had been raining for several days and tonight was one of
the wettest days of the storm. Thunder cracked from the dark sky bright-
ening up the ocean’s water and illuminating the neighborhood houses and
trees. Jim quickly pulled his hood over his head and hurried over to his
detached garage and entered. The garage was dark and quiet except for
the sounds of the water cascading down the roof. He raised his arm slowly
despite the cold water running down his hand. With a quick flick of finger,
a single bulb flickered in the center of the room then remained on.
The garage was messy and smelt like old barn wood. Jim preferred it that
way. He moved strategically past his old Woody car project and towards a
bookshelf filled with old cans of lead paint. He removed one paint bucket
on the left side and a sound of a latch releasing, echoed throughout the
garage. The book shelf then slowly swung open, making a slow creaking
noise. A secret room was barely visible. Jim quickly moved into the dark
room and shut the bookshelf behind him. He reached out and walked
forward using his hand as a guide along the cold damp brick wall till he
felt the breaker. With one motion, he lifted the large breaker up connecting
the power source to his secret laboratory.