This is the stained glass window on the front of Akron Intergroup Office, taken from inside. On the outside, the glass does not show any of the people's faces, displaying the importance of Anonymity! It is absolutely gorgeous, and was done over months time, and visitors could pick out and cut a small piece of the artwork. (9/7 Just added the picture from the street.)
This is inside of the Mayflower Hotel where Bill made that infamous phone call looking for an alcoholic to help. It must have been a magnificent hotel in its day, although now, the hotel is permanent apartments , but they have preserved the original telephone booth and church directory
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, as well as have a display put together by the residents during the last Founder's Day in June.
Then we visited Dr. Bob's home. A non-profit foundation was formed to buy his home and turn it into a museum , as well as the house next door where many of Dr. Bob's medical supplies and photos are displayed and a gift shop in the garage next door. The home is manned by a volunteer daily noon to 3pm. We were first guest in, and last to leave,
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because we immensely enjoyed Wayne A., the volunteer who made it seem like he knew Bob and Anne personally.
The little door on the huge bathroom wall, was a laundry chute in which of course Dr. Bob had a hiding place for his booze. The cigarette stuff on the living room coffee table had a story. Anne never smoked until she was 56 years old, and she wanted to roll her own to save money. Her kids did not want her to smoke, so they put ground-up pencil shavings in the tobacco so it would not taste as good as the commercial cigarettes which were more $. So, she decided to quit smoking!
The bed with the satchel and coat was obviously in Dr. Bob's room. The first photo shows the finished upstairs attic, which was sparsely furnished, but also had a TV for viewing a video of the story of the first members.
The room showing Al talking with Wayne was the room in which Bill stayed for a time at their home. later, it was used for drunks needed to sober up, as there were not enough beds at the hospital. The bed with a Bible on the bed was the "surrender room" where the new alki's were taken to do their 3rd step, and the 3rd step Prayer was written on the paper.
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, as well as have a display put together by the residents during the last Founder's Day in June.Here, we are sitting in 2 of the original chairs from the Mayflower Hotel. They are now part of the Archives at the Akron Intergroup Office.
Below is the Gate Lodge, where Henrietta Seiberling invited both Bob and Bill to her home so they could meet each other in the hopes that Bill could help Bob get sober. It is on the grounds of Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, which was owned by Henrietta's parents. (that is the mansion in some of these photos.) The grounds were magnificent! Henrietta's home was small, and had stories of her daughters' impressions of Bill and Bob. We were disappointed, as the upstairs and the kitchen were closed off
Then we visited Dr. Bob's home. A non-profit foundation was formed to buy his home and turn it into a museum , as well as the house next door where many of Dr. Bob's medical supplies and photos are displayed and a gift shop in the garage next door. The home is manned by a volunteer daily noon to 3pm. We were first guest in, and last to leave,
i
because we immensely enjoyed Wayne A., the volunteer who made it seem like he knew Bob and Anne personally.
The little door on the huge bathroom wall, was a laundry chute in which of course Dr. Bob had a hiding place for his booze. The cigarette stuff on the living room coffee table had a story. Anne never smoked until she was 56 years old, and she wanted to roll her own to save money. Her kids did not want her to smoke, so they put ground-up pencil shavings in the tobacco so it would not taste as good as the commercial cigarettes which were more $. So, she decided to quit smoking!
The bed with the satchel and coat was obviously in Dr. Bob's room. The first photo shows the finished upstairs attic, which was sparsely furnished, but also had a TV for viewing a video of the story of the first members.
The room showing Al talking with Wayne was the room in which Bill stayed for a time at their home. later, it was used for drunks needed to sober up, as there were not enough beds at the hospital. The bed with a Bible on the bed was the "surrender room" where the new alki's were taken to do their 3rd step, and the 3rd step Prayer was written on the paper.
These were photos from inside Dr. Bob and Anne's home. Sorry they are all out of order. Not sure about moving the photos where I want them. Living room has some of original furniture (these chairs have been recovered), and some just period furniture. The books in the bookcase were actually those of Dr. Bob's. They are behind glass to preserve them.
The furniture in the dining room is original
Interestingly, the refrigerator has a foot pedal that opens the door! Why don't they make them like that these days??? The bottles on the bedside table were representative of what Dr. Bob may have given the alkis to help sober up.
The furniture in the dining room is original
Interestingly, the refrigerator has a foot pedal that opens the door! Why don't they make them like that these days??? The bottles on the bedside table were representative of what Dr. Bob may have given the alkis to help sober up. That's all for now. May add more later, when I come across more photos. it is an amazingly awesome experience to be here, and we are so grateful to be doing it. Only wish I could bring these photos to life for you so you could experience what we did. love to all,
Al & Sylvia
What a fun experience! Well worth a days time.
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