Like me, Bill Wilson & Dr, Bob were born and raised in Vermont.
Bill's hometown was East Dorset, Vt (30 minutes south of Rutland, Vt - my hometown) but from age 2 until age 11 he lived in Rutland Vermont, then moved back to East Dorset. The Bill Wilson House in East Dorset is on the Nat'l Register of Historic Places and has AA & Alanon meetings.
Dr. Bob was born in St. Johnsbury, Vt ( about 2 hours NE of Rutland on the New Hampshire border and stayed there until graduating from Dartmouth College and going off to medical school in Chicago, never to return to VT. His Akron, OH home is 855 Ardmore Avenue and still open to meetings.
I feel a couple of side-pilgrimages coming on next time I go back east to visit family.
I was lucky enough to visit Dr. Bob's house in Akron 3 years ago, while attending the induction of a couple of Redskins into the HOF in Canton. One of our board members here, picked me up at the airport in Akron, and her and her sponsor (nice ladies) gave me the grand tour of Akron. I cried when the greeter, at Dr. Bob's house, opened the door and said "Welcome home".
I wanted to go to Founders Day in June last year but did not get my passport in time. I will be going this year tho as I did get it ( the passport) and I really think it is am important link to sobriety.
I was reading Dr Bobs book and noticed that he has 12 steps up to the home at 855 Ardmore Ave, I couldn"t help but flash on 12 steps of AA, as I am sure many other people have noticed as well
-- Edited by SeekingSerenity on Saturday 17th of December 2011 08:28:47 PM
My avitar is from the road sign from in front of St Thomas Hospital where Dr Bob practiced in Akron.
I know some of you may not believe this but I have a interesting story:
In 1986 I'm a couple years sober and working at a large flooring dealer in Akron Oh, we usually have 8 to 10 salespeople working at any given time. So it's my turn to greet the next people coming through the door, it's very eclectic group (you get used to sizing up customers), not family members, didn't seem like a Church or business group so I'm puzzled.
We are looking for linoleum kitchen flooring, then they tell me they are trying to re-create a 1930's look, all the sudden a light went off and I asked if it was for Dr Bob's house and of course it was, so I got to be involved in the selection and installation of the kitchen flooring. The group of people ( who ordinarily would not mix) where all AA members on the committe to rennovate the house. We all shared a little of our stories with each other and how amazing it was that we crossed paths.
I mostly went to meetings in the Cleveland SE suburbs, so I didn't know these people, I didn't know that a group had purchased Dr. Bob's house, all I knew is he had a house off W Market st when he was living, but somehow I saw the connection.
The house is a wonderful and spiritual place that has brought so many people together.
-- Edited by Rob84 on Sunday 18th of December 2011 02:36:32 AM
__________________
Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
Wow, Rob84...that is cool. I can just imagine Dr. Bob under that table, with a new plant on top of it, and his wife on the phone with Bill W. "Maybe tomorrow would be a better day for a visit."
Yea, Some really unbelievable things have happened since I came in the fellowship. I really struggled with a higher power at first, but today I couldn't deny God's presence no matter how hard I tried.
Have a funny story about the installer who went to do a job at the Mayflower Hotel for another day.
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
