855 Ardmore presented by Mike F – 2025-08-12

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Unknown Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2025

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Unknown Listen to Workshop Recording

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Unknown ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Unknown Mike F speaking on "855 Ardmore" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (August 12, 2025). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.

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Unknown Interactive Transcript

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[00 00:02.720 – 00:00:07.339] Welcome to the Recovery Speakers Tuesday night history meeting.

0:16

[00 00:07.339 – 00:00:09.519] Thank you everyone for joining us tonight.

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[00 00:09.519 – 00:00:17.039] My name is Tim, and tonight we have a great presentation, uh, with our presenters live from Dr.

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[00 00:17.039 – 00:00:19.640] Bob's home in Akron.

0:28

[00 00:19.640 – 00:00:25.760] And we meet every Tuesday night at the same time and at the same Zoom ID number.

0:35

[00 00:25.760 – 00:00:33.759] And next week will be Gary N from Georgia presenting on Charles Towns, uh, with Towns Hospital.

0:42

[00 00:33.759 – 00:00:37.280] And this meeting is being recorded.

0:44

[00 00:37.280 – 00:00:44.979] The audio from tonight's presentation, as well as all of our past presentations, can be found at recoveryspeakers.com.

0:52

[00 00:44.979 – 00:00:55.500] This meeting is not affiliated with any 12-step organization, although our goal is to focus on the history of AA and other 12-step fellowships.

1:01

[00 00:55.500 – 00:01:05.859] Recoveryspeakers.com.com is dedicated to preserving and making the audio history of AA and the 12-step movement

1:08

[00 01:05.859 – 00:01:08.659] available for everyone today and in the future.

1:11

[00 01:08.659 – 00:01:15.469] We share a daily email that features a different speaker talk from the Recovery Speakers audio library.

1:18

[00 01:15.469 – 00:01:22.599] Included in the daily emails are the links to the recordings of this meeting, as well as flyers for upcoming presentations.

1:26

[00 01:22.599 – 00:01:34.939] And if you would like to receive our daily email, you can subscribe through the link I shared in the chat a moment ago, or you can send me an email at info@recoveryspeakers.com

1:40

[00 01:34.939 – 00:01:37.480] and I will get you added to our email list.

1:44

[00 01:37.480 – 00:01:43.620] And recoveryspeakers.com is an official 501[c]3 public charity.

1:47

[00 01:43.620 – 00:01:48.599] If you are able to, we accept contributions which allow us to continue our work.

1:53

[00 01:48.599 – 00:01:52.859] And I have the QR code up on the screen right now.

1:58

[00 01:52.859 – 00:01:57.799] If you scan that, you can make a contribution, and we appreciate all of your support.

2:05

[00 01:57.799 – 00:02:04.239] And tonight, depending on what happens, we might have some Q&A at the end.

2:11

[00 02:04.239 – 00:02:05.859] I'm not sure.

2:12

[00 02:05.859 – 00:02:08.340] And, um, that is it for me.

2:15

[00 02:08.340 – 00:02:14.199] I am going to go ahead and turn it right over to Mike and Gail, and enjoy.

2:22

[00 02:14.199 – 00:02:18.199] Um, I need to unmute you.

2:24

[00 02:18.199 – 00:02:22.020] Thank you, Tim.

2:26

[00 02:22.020 – 00:02:32.039] Thank you for all that you do to make these meetings successful and for all the work you do to, uh, help me look...

2:35

[00 02:32.039 – 00:02:42.939] Akron,

2:36

[00 02:42.939 – 00:02:48.400] Ohio with a special guest, Gail McCraw.

2:39

[00 02:48.400 – 00:02:49.639] Hi, everybody.

2:40

[00 02:49.639 – 00:02:53.900] And we have been just getting in as much trouble as a couple of sober people can get in.

2:47

[00 02:53.900 – 00:02:55.259] Welcome home, everybody.

2:49

[00 02:55.259 – 00:02:58.240] We're at 855 in the living room of Bob and Ann's home.

2:53

[00 02:58.240 – 00:03:08.240] And this, to, to be here- You guys are breaking

2:57

[00 03:08.240 – 00:03:09.199] up pretty bad.

2:59

[00 03:09.199 – 00:03:12.539] Can you sign in from a phone maybe?

3:02

[00 03:12.539 – 00:03:23.000] Just sit in the chairs and feel the energy of this house, and know how many hundreds of

3:09

[00 03:23.000 – 00:03:32.319] early pioneers, 1950 when Doc...

3:11

[00 03:32.319 – 00:03:37.180] And he and his wife Ann, these people.

3:15

[00 03:37.180 – 00:03:42.599] Well, we put together this presentation of 855 Ard- Arden.

3:18

[00 03:42.599 – 00:03:51.840] Some of you folks were on last week, and you found out that we had a little bit of problem with my internet, and my presentation quit halfway through.

3:29

[00 03:51.840 – 00:03:57.639] So we decided we would do part two this week.

3:34

[00 03:57.639 – 00:03:59.319] There wasn't a part two, though.

3:36

[00 03:59.319 – 00:04:02.360] Therein lies the problem.

3:38

[00 04:02.360 – 00:04:12.379] So what happened was, I was coming to Akron anyway, so I contacted Gail, and she contacted the board, and we made it so that we could come here and hang out and

3:51

[00 04:12.379 – 00:04:13.300] have a blast.

3:52

[00 04:13.300 – 00:04:23.300] And then today, Gail agreed to sit with me tonight and allow all of you to ans- ask any questions about

4:00

[00 04:23.300 – 00:04:26.620] Akron, early AA, the work of Dr.

4:03

[00 04:26.620 – 00:04:29.160] Bob's, the work they're doing now.

4:06

[00 04:29.160 – 00:04:32.370] Maybe you'd like to k- to know how to make a contribution to Dr.

4:12

[00 04:32.370 – 00:04:35.319] Bob's house, and we'll help you do that too.

4:15

[00 04:35.319 – 00:04:42.220] But we wanna just have some fun, share some really cool stuff with you tonight, and just to have a great conversation.

4:24

[00 04:42.220 – 00:04:47.399] So start with a little video.

4:26

[00 04:47.399 – 00:04:49.779] It's about 15...

4:28

[00 04:49.779 – 00:04:58.040] Tim, if it gets too choppy or too boring or too much of me, just turn it off, and then we'll go back to, uh, the presentation.

4:38

[00 04:58.040 – 00:05:00.600] But go ahead and, and see if the, uh, video will work.

4:43

[00 05:00.600 – 00:05:10.060] Welcome.

4:44

[00 05:10.060 – 00:05:10.819] Here we are at Dr.

4:46

[00 05:10.819 – 00:05:17.779] Bob's house, and I'm walking up the 12 steps that lead to the home where it all started.

4:52

[00 05:17.779 – 00:05:23.060] A lot of people didn't know that it's 12 steps to come up to Dr.

4:58

[00 05:23.060 – 00:05:24.879] Bob's house, and Dr.

5:00

[00 05:24.879 – 00:05:32.500] Bob's house is now a national historical landmark here at 855 Ardmore Avenue.

5:05

[00 05:32.500 – 00:05:39.439] Now, when we go in the home, and when you come to visit Dr.

5:10

[00 05:39.439 – 00:05:48.720] Bob's house and you get to this point, you'll be greeted, and whoever greets you will say, "Welcome home." All right, and this is where it all started.

5:21

[00 05:48.720 – 00:05:50.779] 855 Ardmore Avenue.

5:22

[00 05:50.779 – 00:05:51.420] Welcome.

5:23

[00 05:51.420 – 00:05:53.060] Come on in and see.

5:25

[00 05:53.060 – 00:05:57.000] This is the living room.

5:27

[00 05:57.000 – 00:06:00.980] And here, when you come to Dr.

5:30

[00 06:00.980 – 00:06:10.360] Bob's house, you'll have an opportunity to see some of the, the original pieces that were here when Bob and Ann lived here.

5:39

[00 06:10.360 – 00:06:11.639] These chairs.

5:40

[00 06:11.639 – 00:06:17.560] Now, behind this chain is a fireplace.

5:43

[00 06:17.560 – 00:06:20.158] Some original books that belonged to Dr.

5:46

[00 06:20.158 – 00:06:21.040] Bob and Ann.

5:48

[00 06:21.040 – 00:06:24.000] As a matter of fact, all of these are original.

5:52

[00 06:24.000 – 00:06:34.379] And then the Bible here is turned to the Book of James because Ann used to sit in this chair,

6:00

[00 06:34.379 – 00:06:42.939] and the AA members that would be staying with her or visiting would sit, and she would read from the Bi-

6:08

[00 06:43.082 – 00:06:47.022] Bible, and they would do meditation.

6:11

[00 06:47.022 – 00:06:57.472] So this area here is fenced off, but they have the original Bible open to the Book of James,

6:18

[00 06:57.472 – 00:06:59.852] where Anne would read to the early members.

6:21

[00 06:59.852 – 00:07:09.872] They would pray and, and ask for guidance, and a lot of her initial involvement was

6:28

[00 07:09.872 – 00:07:20.172] with the Oxford Group, and the teachings, and the philosophy of the Oxford Group that was making its way in to help these guys get sober

6:38

[00 07:20.172 – 00:07:25.892] and have an opportunity to carry a message of hope to others.

6:43

[00 07:25.892 – 00:07:33.932] And you can see on the mantel piece, they have original photographs of Bob and Anne, and even, uh, uh, Bob and Sue.

6:52

[00 07:33.932 – 00:07:36.132] Uh, young Bob and Sue.

6:54

[00 07:36.132 – 00:07:41.772] And, uh, off on the, on the far side, you have, uh, Bob Smith Jr.

7:00

[00 07:41.772 – 00:07:43.652] and his first wife, Betty.

7:02

[00 07:43.652 – 00:07:54.152] Now, when we come into the home, the dining room, this

7:06

[00 07:54.152 – 00:08:00.912] is the area where they sat and wrote the Big Book stories.

7:11

[00 08:00.912 – 00:08:02.362] Jim Scott came.

7:13

[00 08:02.362 – 00:08:07.812] Sue Smith Windows would, would help do the typing.

7:17

[00 08:07.812 – 00:08:10.572] I, I, actually I'm gonna just say Sue Smith.

7:20

[00 08:10.572 – 00:08:11.552] I might be wrong.

7:22

[00 08:11.552 – 00:08:14.812] She may not have been Windows yet at that point in time.

7:27

[00 08:14.812 – 00:08:16.852] I don't think that she was.

7:30

[00 08:16.852 – 00:08:21.971] I think that she may have been married to Ernie Galbreath at that time.

7:35

[00 08:21.971 – 00:08:28.532] But sitting here is where they did the stories, and Jim would edit them.

7:41

[00 08:28.532 – 00:08:40.192] And back here is a invitation to

7:44

[00 08:40.192 – 00:08:46.422] the wedding of Anne Robinson to Dr.

7:47

[00 08:46.422 – 00:08:48.612] Robert Holbrook Smith.

7:48

[00 08:48.612 – 00:08:54.092] And then over here we've got some pictures of T.

7:52

[00 08:54.092 – 00:09:04.652] Henry and Clarice Williams, and they're the ones that invited the alcoholics into their home, and that's where AA

8:00

[00 09:04.652 – 00:09:11.412] really kinda started, because the meetings of the Oxford Group were taking place, but T.

8:06

[00 09:11.412 – 00:09:21.572] Henry and Clarice invited the people through Anne Smith that were s- early members that were getting sober and helping one another, and they would have their meetings

8:16

[00 09:21.572 – 00:09:21.952] there.

8:17

[00 09:21.952 – 00:09:22.541] And Dr.

8:18

[00 09:22.541 – 00:09:32.292] Bob would take them upstairs, and they would do the third step prayer on their knees in what they called the upper room of T.

8:28

[00 09:32.292 – 00:09:34.252] Henry and Clarice Williams' house.

8:30

[00 09:34.252 – 00:09:41.072] Now, the kitchen is right here off of the dining room.

8:35

[00 09:41.072 – 00:09:44.112] And you can see it's a humble little place here.

8:39

[00 09:44.112 – 00:09:54.392] This is not a huge home, and they kept things as much as they could to have it the way it was back in the 1930s and '40s.

8:50

[00 09:54.392 – 00:09:57.392] This hasn't changed much.

8:52

[00 09:57.392 – 00:10:00.772] They have the old stove and icebox.

8:55

[00 10:00.772 – 00:10:10.812] On top of the icebox is a Kistler's Donuts, and they, that was a popular place for the AAs to

9:03

[00 10:10.812 – 00:10:14.992] get their donuts for many years, and they had the little donut trays.

9:08

[00 10:14.992 – 00:10:20.712] And, uh, that would be something a, a lot of AAs had in their home.

9:14

[00 10:20.712 – 00:10:26.552] Now, the bathroom off of the kitchen is tiny.

9:18

[00 10:26.552 – 00:10:33.892] Now, Smitty u- uh, used to like to tell the story that on Sunday nights, they had the meetings here at Dr.

9:26

[00 10:33.892 – 00:10:35.332] Bob and Anne's house.

9:28

[00 10:35.332 – 00:10:45.332] And Anne had to put her vacuum cleaner in here because she didn't have a place to store it, but because the AAs had

9:37

[00 10:45.332 – 00:10:49.282] such bad aim, she used to have to cover it with a shower curtain.

9:43

[00 10:49.282 – 00:10:56.552] So they're real people doing real things, and that, that's part of when you come here and experience Dr.

9:50

[00 10:56.552 – 00:10:59.052] Bob's house and the campus here.

9:53

[00 10:59.052 – 00:11:09.112] Um, you will be able to feel and be part of our history, and this is so important, and they've done such a

10:02

[00 11:09.112 – 00:11:10.942] good job here at Dr.

10:04

[00 11:10.942 – 00:11:16.912] Bob's house preserving this, and we're honored to be able to be here to share it with you.

10:11

[00 11:16.912 – 00:11:19.172] So let's go upstairs.

10:13

[00 11:19.172 – 00:11:22.662] Here we are, Dr.

10:15

[00 11:22.662 – 00:11:25.852] Bob's and Anne Smith.

10:17

[00 11:25.852 – 00:11:36.272] When you come upstairs

10:19

[00 11:36.272 – 00:11:36.592] at Dr.

10:20

[00 11:36.592 – 00:11:43.132] Bob's house, one of the first things that you get to see is the old linen closet right outside of Dr.

10:28

[00 11:43.132 – 00:11:44.792] Bob and Anne's bedroom.

10:30

[00 11:44.792 – 00:11:55.892] And when they open up the linen closet, this is really cool, they now have a wire recorder and a wire recording

10:38

[00 11:55.892 – 00:11:57.002] that was made in Dr.

10:41

[00 11:57.002 – 00:12:01.452] Bob's bedroom in June of 1947.

10:43

[00 12:01.452 – 00:12:07.912] And then right below it, you can listen to the voices that are on the recording.

10:49

[00 12:07.912 – 00:12:17.932] For example, this is the only recording of Anne Smith that has been

10:54

[00 12:17.932 – 00:12:19.192] uncovered anywhere.

10:55

[00 12:19.192 – 00:12:25.612] And I wanna just turn it on so you can just hear what it sounds like here outside their bedroom.

11:03

[00 12:25.612 – 00:12:27.452] Robert who wants me to start first.

11:06

[00 12:27.452 – 00:12:28.192] He's afraid.

11:07

[00 12:28.192 – 00:12:30.512] So I'll start it.

11:09

[00 12:30.512 – 00:12:34.512] We've got Betty and Smitty here with us and, and George Hood.

11:14

[00 12:34.512 – 00:12:39.592] We're all up in my bedroom where we are entertained now.

11:18

[00 12:39.592 – 00:12:41.892] It's very formal entertaining.

11:20

[00 12:41.892 – 00:12:42.392] All right.

11:21

[00 12:42.392 – 00:12:43.442] Here, this is Dr.

11:23

[00 12:43.442 – 00:12:47.052] Bob and Anne Smith's bedroom, and on the bed you see Dr.

11:28

[00 12:47.052 – 00:12:53.012] Bob's original medical bag and, of course, uh, one of Anne's dresses.

11:33

[00 12:53.012 – 00:13:03.052] Uh, interesting about Anne Smith and her dresses, because people were so poor in the late 1930s, early 1940s, that when

11:41

[00 13:03.052 – 00:13:13.132] the ladies would come to the meeting, even if Anne had a brand-new dress to wear, she would find an old dress to wear just because she did not want to be

11:53

[00 13:13.132 – 00:13:17.292] dressed better than some of the newer people coming in.

11:58

[00 13:17.292 – 00:13:25.592] She wanted them to see that we're real people, and Anne was a great example for the AAs and their families.

12:06

[00 13:25.592 – 00:13:25.782] And-

12:07

[00 13:26.077 – 00:13:27.197] Here we've got the Dr.

12:09

[00 13:27.197 – 00:13:29.637] Bob's original crib.

12:10

[00 13:29.637 – 00:13:34.277] The christening gown.

12:12

[00 13:34.277 – 00:13:44.377] Now what happened with the wire recordings was actually I was sitting on this bed one morning a few years ago and having a morning

12:21

[00 13:44.377 – 00:13:53.757] meditation, and it came to me that we needed to make sure that wire recording got back here where it started.

12:30

[00 13:53.757 – 00:14:00.157] And George Hood was the one who recorded it, and I was grateful that we were able to bring it back here.

12:38

[00 14:00.157 – 00:14:02.457] Here we are in Smitty's room.

12:41

[00 14:02.457 – 00:14:03.297] This is Dr.

12:42

[00 14:03.297 – 00:14:06.017] Bob's son, Robert Smith Jr.

12:44

[00 14:06.017 – 00:14:09.037] He was the biological child of Dr.

12:47

[00 14:09.037 – 00:14:10.937] Bob and Anne.

12:49

[00 14:10.937 – 00:14:21.337] And in here, we have a few things, because AA members back in the day, they used to bring them in and they would put them to bed in the kids' bedrooms

13:01

[00 14:21.337 – 00:14:22.977] and throw the kids out of the bedroom.

13:05

[00 14:22.977 – 00:14:33.637] Archie Trowbridge, who was the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous in Detroit, actually sobered up here in this room and stayed with the Smiths

13:14

[00 14:33.637 – 00:14:42.417] for 10 and a half months before he returned to Detroit with Bill Wilson to start AA in Detroit.

13:21

[00 14:42.417 – 00:14:45.597] So this is the humble beginnings of all of it.

13:25

[00 14:45.597 – 00:14:55.877] Most of the people who got sober in the early days, most of the first 100, if you will, actually came through this home,

13:34

[00 14:55.877 – 00:15:04.077] had time with Anne, had time with Bob, and learned the, the, the teachings that they were using at the time.

13:42

[00 15:04.077 – 00:15:14.097] The book of James, the 13th Corinthians, and the Sermon on the Mount were really the three books that Anne and Bob were using with the

13:52

[00 15:14.097 – 00:15:15.457] new AA people.

13:53

[00 15:15.457 – 00:15:21.537] This room was Sue's room, and Sue was Dr.

13:57

[00 15:21.537 – 00:15:23.717] Bob and Anne's adopted daughter.

13:59

[00 15:23.717 – 00:15:30.817] She was there and present and helping with the alcoholics.

14:03

[00 15:30.817 – 00:15:40.857] I had mentioned that she helped to type up all of the stories of the people from Akron that made their way into the original Big Book.

14:14

[00 15:40.857 – 00:15:45.237] She would type them, and they sent them then on to New York to Bill.

14:20

[00 15:45.237 – 00:15:55.347] They have kind of a, a, a little shrine here, if you will, just some nice things about Sue and, and, and, uh, actually this

14:29

[00 15:55.347 – 00:16:04.217] is Sue and Ray Windows, and, and Gail loves to tell the story that Sue and Ray were trying to get, uh, get together and Dr.

14:40

[00 16:04.217 – 00:16:14.236] Bob didn't care for him, so he suggested that Ernie take Sue out for a soda, and, uh, Ernie became

14:47

[00 16:14.237 – 00:16:16.777] Sue's first wife, or first husband.

14:50

[00 16:16.777 – 00:16:26.807] And then when that marriage didn't work, Sue and, and, uh, Ray found themselves back together,

14:56

[00 16:26.807 – 00:16:31.217] and they remarried, or they married then, not remarried.

15:00

[00 16:31.217 – 00:16:36.937] Up here we've got a, a E- Edgar Riley, okay?

15:04

[00 16:36.937 – 00:16:44.997] Now Eddie Riley was the one that would climb out the window at night and, uh, get a hold of Dr.

15:12

[00 16:44.997 – 00:16:47.657] Bob and Bill, and they would try to round him up.

15:17

[00 16:47.657 – 00:16:53.817] And E- Eddie's also the one that chased Anne Smith around the house with a butcher knife and had to be committed.

15:25

[00 16:53.817 – 00:16:58.877] And later he found sobriety, and he attended Dr.

15:29

[00 16:58.877 – 00:17:08.947] Bob's funeral and reached over and shook Smitty's hand and said, "Do you know who I am?" And Smitty said, "Why, you're Eddie." And Eddie had been sober for a couple years, and he remained

15:42

[00 17:08.947 – 00:17:09.397] that way.

15:44

[00 17:09.397 – 00:17:19.917] This book up here was, uh, inscribed by Sister Ignatia to Eddie, and that was done in 1948.

15:50

[00 17:19.917 – 00:17:24.677] So you would definitely know that Eddie got sober right before that.

15:55

[00 17:24.677 – 00:17:30.357] I'm not gonna talk much about a bathroom.

15:58

[00 17:30.357 – 00:17:35.617] However, this particular bathroom was, uh, very important to Dr.

16:03

[00 17:35.617 – 00:17:36.397] Bob.

16:03

[00 17:36.397 – 00:17:43.317] Not only did he come in here to do his business, he came in here to do some of his drinking.

16:11

[00 17:43.317 – 00:17:48.457] And he would hide his, his bottles of alcohol.

16:15

[00 17:48.457 – 00:17:58.577] There's a shelf up here, and he would hide them up here on the shelf, but he would also drop them down the laundry chute, and it would

16:26

[00 17:58.577 – 00:18:04.677] go down into a basket in the basement, and he would go down there and drink it so Anne wouldn't know it.

16:35

[00 18:04.677 – 00:18:08.717] And he would even hide the bottles outside in a sock.

16:39

[00 18:08.717 – 00:18:18.937] And they've got it set up pretty much the way that you would have found this back in the '40s, where, uh, the medicine cabinet

16:49

[00 18:18.937 – 00:18:22.177] and, you know, the things that they are displaying here.

16:53

[00 18:22.177 – 00:18:28.317] Um, also, uh, a copy of a magazine called The Upper Room.

16:58

[00 18:28.317 – 00:18:38.017] And, uh, that, that particular one was, uh, June, uh, through September of 194- or July through September of 1946.

17:05

[00 18:38.017 – 00:18:46.537] But The Upper Room was read by many of the early Akron-Cleveland members who were getting sober.

17:12

[00 18:46.537 – 00:18:50.437] That was a popular Methodist magazine that was put out.

17:16

[00 18:50.437 – 00:18:52.637] It's still out today.

17:18

[00 18:52.637 – 00:18:54.897] They still do The Upper Room.

17:21

[00 18:54.897 – 00:18:58.197] Um, and that was definitely one of Dr.

17:24

[00 18:58.197 – 00:19:02.007] Bob's favorite go-to magazines.

17:26

[00 19:02.007 – 00:19:05.197] Now we're just gonna take a quick peek up in the attic.

17:31

[00 19:05.197 – 00:19:09.877] This area is actually closed off right now because they're doing some restoration.

17:36

[00 19:09.877 – 00:19:16.337] I just wanted to show what we're dealing with with these old homes.

17:41

[00 19:16.337 – 00:19:23.977] Right now it's completely empty.

17:43

[00 19:23.977 – 00:19:34.377] I don't know exactly what they're renovating or what they're going to be doing, but I'm sure in the coming months more will be revealed.

17:53

[00 19:34.377 – 00:19:44.857] Now, one of the reasons I like to come up here and show the old house was, for

18:00

[00 19:44.857 – 00:19:55.377] those of you that know my story, know that one of the last things I was gonna do while I was drinking was jump off out of a window in downtown Buffalo

18:12

[00 19:55.377 – 00:19:56.317] out of the attic.

18:14

[00 19:56.317 – 00:20:01.277] This is pretty much the kind of thing I was looking at at the time.

18:20

[00 20:01.277 – 00:20:07.037] And you can see I'd have hurt myself, but I probably would have flopped around in pain.

18:27

[00 20:10.156 – 00:20:12.066] Now we're heading down into the basement.

18:30

[00 20:12.066 – 00:20:14.116] Come on with me and check this out.

18:33

[00 20:14.116 – 00:20:22.576] How did like to be...

18:36

[00 20:22.576 – 00:20:28.816] How would you like to drive your, your car, open your garage door and drive your car right into your basement?

18:44

[00 20:28.816 – 00:20:29.596] Well, that's what Dr.

18:46

[00 20:29.596 – 00:20:33.236] Bob did, and he loved cars.

18:48

[00 20:33.236 – 00:20:35.366] And you can see some of the cars that Dr.

18:52

[00 20:35.366 – 00:20:39.636] Bob owned, and some pictures they have down here of Dr.

18:57

[00 20:39.636 – 00:20:42.216] Bob with his cars.

18:59

[00 20:42.216 – 00:20:44.156] And also, Dr.

19:00

[00 20:44.156 – 00:20:46.856] Bob was a avid outdoorsman.

19:02

[00 20:46.856 – 00:20:48.036] Loved to go fishing.

19:04

[00 20:48.036 – 00:20:58.076] He would go up to, uh, Minnesota and fish with Ed Webster and some of the early members that he had become friends with and was close to.

19:15

[00 20:58.076 – 00:21:04.316] And over here, if you look at, when you go- when you come here, a lot of people know that Dr.

19:23

[00 21:04.316 – 00:21:14.406] Bob had tattoos, but what you can see here in these pictures is you can actually see the sleeve tattoos that

19:31

[00 21:14.406 – 00:21:14.676] Dr.

19:32

[00 21:14.676 – 00:21:15.576] Bob had.

19:33

[00 21:15.576 – 00:21:24.936] And you can't, you know, it's not clear enough to tell what they are, but we know that he had one on his right arm, his left arm, and his chest.

19:45

[00 21:24.936 – 00:21:38.376] All

19:46

[00 21:38.376 – 00:21:38.636] right.

19:47

[00 21:38.636 – 00:21:42.496] So Mike and Gail had to sign off real quick, but they will be right back on.

19:53

[00 21:42.496 – 00:21:45.736] So we'll hang out here for a minute.

19:57

[00 21:45.736 – 00:21:50.216] Oh.

19:57

[00 21:50.216 – 00:22:00.356] Considering that last week

19:59

[00 22:00.356 – 00:22:05.696] when Mike started this, we didn't have a part two for 855 Ardmore.

20:04

[00 22:05.696 – 00:22:12.876] This is a pretty good part two of 855 Ardmore, for those of you who've never been to Dr.

20:11

[00 22:12.876 – 00:22:14.516] Bob's house in Akron.

20:13

[00 22:14.516 – 00:22:24.936] So if you are traveling in the US, um, if you can get Akron on your schedules, um, also Stepping Stones,

20:21

[00 22:24.936 – 00:22:29.436] Bill Wilson's house up in Vermont, in East Dorset, Vermont.

20:25

[00 22:29.436 – 00:22:38.736] All of those places are available to visit and have docents that will take you through and, and you can do a tour.

20:34

[00 22:38.736 – 00:22:48.596] You can go to Wit's End, which is Bill's, um, little office off of the house at Stepping Stones where he, where he wrote.

20:44

[00 22:48.596 – 00:22:54.036] Um, the Wilson House in, uh, East Dorset, Vermont, you can stay there.

20:49

[00 22:54.036 – 00:22:55.816] They do have guest rooms available.

20:51

[00 22:55.816 – 00:22:58.876] All right.

20:53

[00 22:58.876 – 00:23:01.496] I'm trying to get Mike unmuted here.

20:55

[00 23:01.496 – 00:23:02.536] I think I- Thank you, Penny.

20:58

[00 23:02.536 – 00:23:03.256] That was great.

21:00

[00 23:03.256 – 00:23:12.626] We're, uh, You did fill in once.

21:03

[00 23:12.626 – 00:23:13.876] Video finish?

21:04

[00 23:13.876 – 00:23:16.856] The video is over.

21:06

[00 23:16.856 – 00:23:17.446] We cannot hear you.

21:07

[00 23:17.446 – 00:23:18.406] Am I going to h- No.

21:10

[00 23:18.406 – 00:23:23.276] Can't hear me?

21:12

[00 23:23.276 – 00:23:24.536] Barely.

21:12

[00 23:24.536 – 00:23:25.656] You keep cutting out.

21:14

[00 23:25.656 – 00:23:28.396] Yeah.

21:15

[00 23:28.396 – 00:23:30.536] We're gonna have to move to the kitchen.

21:18

[00 23:30.536 – 00:23:33.476] Could you mute yours, uh...

21:20

[00 23:33.476 – 00:23:36.375] We're gonna try to move and see if we can do a little better job.

21:26

[00 23:36.375 – 00:23:38.016] Okay.

21:27

[00 23:38.016 – 00:23:38.356] Come on.

21:28

[00 23:38.356 – 00:24:01.146] All

21:29

[00 24:01.146 – 00:24:01.416] right.

21:30

[00 24:01.416 – 00:24:02.596] Now can you hear me?

21:32

[00 24:02.596 – 00:24:03.596] Yes.

21:33

[00 24:03.596 – 00:24:05.036] All right.

21:34

[00 24:05.036 – 00:24:09.056] Well- Did, you didn't see me drop my water, right?

21:38

[00 24:09.056 – 00:24:11.196] All right.

21:39

[00 24:11.196 – 00:24:12.576] Well, hi, everybody.

21:41

[00 24:12.576 – 00:24:14.516] I hope you enjoyed the video of Dr.

21:44

[00 24:14.516 – 00:24:15.596] Bob's house.

21:45

[00 24:15.596 – 00:24:25.416] And I hope that, uh, gosh, I hope that I can make it out of here without ruining this house.

21:53

[00 24:25.416 – 00:24:35.736] So what I'd like to do now, Tim, could you play Sue Windows, please?

21:58

[00 24:35.736 – 00:24:37.216] Yes.

21:59

[00 24:37.216 – 00:24:39.076] This is Dr.

22:01

[00 24:39.076 – 00:24:40.806] Bob's adopted daughter.

22:02

[00 24:40.806 – 00:24:48.436] She's the one who helped with the typing of the, of the manuscripts and of the stories that went into the big book.

22:11

[00 24:48.436 – 00:24:58.616] But in the mornings,

22:13

[00 24:58.616 – 00:25:08.596] real early, uh, the early, uh, young men, uh, and some of the older ones, would come to the house and they would knock e- maybe before we were even out of bed.

22:26

[00 25:08.596 – 00:25:17.696] And so we'd get up, put the coffee pot on, get dressed, and my mother would have a quiet time, which was a holdover from the Oxford Group.

22:36

[00 25:17.696 – 00:25:23.516] And they would, uh, read from the Bible, and then they would be quiet and try to get guidance.

22:44

[00 25:23.516 – 00:25:25.916] Then they would have coffee and, and cookies.

22:47

[00 25:25.916 – 00:25:31.036] We had one of the early men who was a cookie salesman, and he would bring the stale cookies.

22:55

[00 25:31.036 – 00:25:34.056] And we took up a collection for coffee, which was...

22:59

[00 25:34.056 – 00:25:38.076] Oh, it was kind of expensive then, three pounds for 29 cents, I think.

23:04

[00 25:38.076 – 00:25:39.776] And we had to take up a collection for that.

23:08

[00 25:39.776 – 00:25:42.516] And that's how, how poor we were.

23:11

[00 25:42.516 – 00:25:46.456] But anyhow, uh, we met at T.

23:14

[00 25:46.456 – 00:25:51.216] Henry's home for oh, I'd say almost four years.

23:18

[00 25:51.216 – 00:26:00.886] And, uh, so anyhow, they, after that, we met at our home, and at one time, we had 75 people in that house, and that old house just bulged.

23:28

[00 26:00.886 – 00:26:04.256] Can you imagine 75 people on that, that first front corner room?

23:33

[00 26:04.256 – 00:26:04.976] No.

23:34

[00 26:04.976 – 00:26:06.796] They weren't just in that front corner room.

23:37

[00 26:06.796 – 00:26:07.996] They were in the two front rooms.

23:40

[00 26:07.996 – 00:26:11.416] They were up the stairway, and even on the hall landing.

23:44

[00 26:11.416 – 00:26:16.476] So anyhow, pretty soon we got a, a meeting place at what they call King School.

23:51

[00 26:16.476 – 00:26:23.956] And that was Sue talking about what her experience was.

23:55

[00 26:23.956 – 00:26:29.276] Uh, Tim, could you play, uh, Smitty's?

23:58

[00 26:29.276 – 00:26:31.876] Yeah.

23:59

[00 26:31.876 – 00:26:44.876] This

23:59

[00 26:44.876 – 00:26:49.376] is a tape of, uh, young Bob and Betty Smith- Oh, good ...

24:04

[00 26:49.376 – 00:26:51.696] discussing their father and mother

24:06

[00 26:53.801 – 00:26:55.061] Bob and Annie Smith.

24:08

[00 26:55.061 – 00:27:04.621] This tape was made April the 2nd, 1975 by Mid- Midwest Tape Library.

24:13

[00 27:04.621 – 00:27:07.341] Hello.

24:14

[00 27:07.341 – 00:27:09.541] My name is Robert R.

24:16

[00 27:09.541 – 00:27:10.080] Smith.

24:17

[00 27:10.080 – 00:27:12.141] My father and mother were Dr.

24:19

[00 27:12.141 – 00:27:17.361] Bob and Ann Smith, and I would like to talk to you about Ann Smith.

24:25

[00 27:17.361 – 00:27:24.151] Ann Robinson Ripley was born in Oak Park, Illinois, one of four children.

24:31

[00 27:24.151 – 00:27:30.181] Her father was of modest circumstances and worked for the Santa Fe Railroad.

24:36

[00 27:30.181 – 00:27:34.500] Ann attended public schools and graduated from Wellesley College.

24:40

[00 27:34.500 – 00:27:42.301] She was always quick to explain that she attended on a scholarship, because otherwise the school was beyond the family means.

24:48

[00 27:42.301 – 00:27:46.320] She taught school for a few years prior to marrying Dr.

24:52

[00 27:46.320 – 00:27:46.881] Bob.

24:53

[00 27:46.881 – 00:27:49.701] What was she really like?

24:55

[00 27:49.701 – 00:27:56.041] She was brought up properly to be a good girl and was sheltered from the seamy side of life.

25:03

[00 27:56.041 – 00:28:02.441] She knew etiquette and good grammar, and insisted that the family know and use them.

25:09

[00 28:02.441 – 00:28:06.121] She was always a lady in the true sense of the word.

25:13

[00 28:06.121 – 00:28:15.901] Mother was of medium build, constantly battled to keep her weight down, and possessed a delightful sense of humor with a melodious laugh.

25:22

[00 28:15.901 – 00:28:22.531] She was the type of person all of us loved to tease and play jokes on because she took it so well.

25:31

[00 28:22.531 – 00:28:30.801] She was, for a long time, easily shocked, so the family spent much time trying to shock her to see her reaction.

25:40

[00 28:30.801 – 00:28:37.901] Mother was completely unassuming, deeply in love with Dad, and their love always showed.

25:45

[00 28:37.901 – 00:28:48.261] She did not drink at all, took up smoking at the age of 55, and explained to me that if I waited until I was 55 to smoke, she wouldn't criticize

25:56

[00 28:48.261 – 00:28:48.541] me.

25:57

[00 28:48.541 – 00:28:56.681] As the AA movement was being formed, the country was in the midst of a grinding depression.

26:04

[00 28:56.681 – 00:29:02.561] I was a teenager finishing high school and starting college.

26:08

[00 29:02.561 – 00:29:13.381] Mother somehow held the family together in good spirits, although many days she had less than $2, and the mortgage moratorium was all that kept the roof

26:18

[00 29:13.421 – 00:29:19.761] of the modest home in which we lived, and from which they never moved, over our heads.

26:25

[00 29:19.761 – 00:29:26.601] Mother was a deeply, quietly religious person.

26:28

[00 29:26.601 – 00:29:33.060] Each day she had her own quiet time, as she put it, for communication with the Lord.

26:34

[00 29:33.060 – 00:29:43.081] At that time, alcoholics were not welcomed at hospitals if they could afford it, which most of them couldn't, so

26:42

[00 29:43.081 – 00:29:45.961] many came into our home and were treated there.

26:46

[00 29:45.961 – 00:29:51.921] Now, the treatment fell mainly Mother's lot as Dad was off to work each day.

26:52

[00 29:51.921 – 00:30:02.161] She had many, many experiences with drunks just coming out of stupor, including being chased around the house with her own butcher knife

27:01

[00 30:02.161 – 00:30:06.361] and people sliding down the drain spouts to search for more alcohol.

27:06

[00 30:06.361 – 00:30:16.721] She remained unflappable throughout with a deep faith, an abiding love for these derelicts and their families,

27:12

[00 30:16.721 – 00:30:21.841] but she soon reached the point where it was very difficult to shock her anymore.

27:18

[00 30:21.841 – 00:30:26.121] Some stayed for months and were accepted as part of the family.

27:23

[00 30:26.121 – 00:30:32.181] They shared in what we had, and Mother was their daytime mentor.

27:28

[00 30:32.181 – 00:30:38.061] Her serenity among these circumstances bred serenity among the alcoholic.

27:32

[00 30:38.061 – 00:30:42.461] Her counseling was done quietly and selflessly.

27:35

[00 30:42.461 – 00:30:50.661] At AA meetings, she always sat in the back of the room and always put newcomers at ease by quietly greeting them.

27:43

[00 30:50.661 – 00:30:59.201] She bore the poverty of the times without complaint and spent virtually nothing on herself.

27:49

[00 30:59.201 – 00:31:09.461] As the AA movement grew and Dad began to come out of the depths financially, she still wouldn't wear a new dress to a gathering

27:59

[00 31:09.461 – 00:31:12.901] if she thought someone would be there who couldn't have one.

28:04

[00 31:12.901 – 00:31:20.261] In later life, her eyesight failed to the point where she could just distinguish movement across the room.

28:11

[00 31:20.261 – 00:31:30.361] One operation for removal of cataract from one eye was a failure, so she would not permit an operation on the other,

28:19

[00 31:30.361 – 00:31:36.461] as she said she still had some vision and believed that was better than none.

28:25

[00 31:36.461 – 00:31:45.351] I asked her once since she had had so much confidence that her first operation would be a success, why it failed.

28:34

[00 31:45.351 – 00:31:55.061] She said, "I think it was because I did not have enough faith." We were a happy family, provided with all we had to have.

28:43

[00 31:55.061 – 00:32:05.261] Only after she was gone did it dawn on me that this deep, considered, quiet person who would do battle for what she believed

28:53

[00 32:05.261 – 00:32:10.181] or to protect our family, was the solid foundation that Dr.

28:57

[00 32:10.181 – 00:32:14.101] Bob needed to carry on his part of AA.

29:01

[00 32:14.101 – 00:32:16.561] Wow.

29:02

[00 32:16.561 – 00:32:25.621] And that is why Bill Wilson referred to Ann Smith as the mother of AA.

29:08

[00 32:25.621 – 00:32:29.061] She truly was the mother of AA.

29:11

[00 32:29.061 – 00:32:37.661] She nurtured these guys, as Smitty said, and his sister said that they, they would show up before they would even get up in the morning here.

29:21

[00 32:37.661 – 00:32:44.581] I'm sure when Bob and Ann woke up, there'd be people sitting on their front porch waiting to have their coffee and meditation.

29:30

[00 32:44.581 – 00:32:52.541] To be able to be here and share this and be part of this history, and the fact that this house has been preserved.

29:39

[00 32:52.541 – 00:32:55.551] When you come in here and you see some of the books that Dr.

29:45

[00 32:55.551 – 00:33:02.901] Bob and Ann read, and you sit and, and you look at the fireplace and you c- kind of get an idea of some of this.

29:55

[00 33:02.901 – 00:33:10.941] Or you walk around the neighborhood and you think, "My, RGT lived here for 10 and a half months," and his story's in the Big Book.

30:05

[00 33:10.941 – 00:33:12.961] He's the guy that was the fearful one.

30:08

[00 33:12.961 – 00:33:23.081] And, uh, he, his fear was so bad that he wouldn't go outside by himself, and Ann Smith used to take him by the hand and

30:18

[00 33:23.081 – 00:33:28.501] walk him around the block until he had enough confidence to do it himself.

30:24

[00 33:28.501 – 00:33:33.341] She loved these guys until they were able to begin to love themselves.

30:29

[00 33:33.341 – 00:33:34.881] She fed them.

30:30

[00 33:35.146 – 00:33:45.226] She gave herself to them, and I don't know if you caught that, but if she was going to a meeting, she would put on one of her l- torn up,

30:42

[00 33:45.226 – 00:33:50.546] worse, older dresses just so some newcomer wouldn't feel uncomfortable.

30:46

[00 33:50.546 – 00:34:00.966] That was the kind of woman that she was, and you can see how AA grew out of Akron, how it went to Chicago and

30:56

[00 34:00.966 – 00:34:10.356] Cleveland and Detroit and Indianapolis, and Anne and Bob were the ones that were instrumental in this, in working with these guys.

31:05

[00 34:10.356 – 00:34:14.026] So there's one more recording that we would like to share.

31:09

[00 34:14.026 – 00:34:24.106] I'm gonna share that, and then we're going to stop, and, and Gail and I are going to answer any, uh, any questions that you might

31:19

[00 34:24.106 – 00:34:24.806] have tonight.

31:20

[00 34:24.806 – 00:34:28.466] We're gonna do the best we can with the internet situation that we have.

31:26

[00 34:28.466 – 00:34:30.686] I thank you all for bearing with us.

31:29

[00 34:30.686 – 00:34:32.166] Tim, go ahead.

31:31

[00 34:32.166 – 00:34:33.865] Let them hear about Mr.

31:33

[00 34:33.865 – 00:34:37.346] 91st AA member, got sober, and Dr.

31:36

[00 34:37.346 – 00:34:38.886] Bob was his sponsor.

31:38

[00 34:38.886 – 00:34:49.006] And today, I like to look upon God as a great light that shines across

31:44

[00 34:49.006 – 00:34:50.146] the pathway of life.

31:45

[00 34:50.146 – 00:34:56.266] All I have to do is face that light, and the shadow will fall back of me.

31:52

[00 34:56.266 – 00:34:57.406] It's as simple as that.

31:54

[00 34:57.406 – 00:35:06.546] Now, before I close, I want to turn back the pages of AA history to the early days, just for a brief few moments.

32:04

[00 35:06.546 – 00:35:16.546] The days when we had just cause to fear that internal dissension, jealousy, dishonesty, whatever, intolerance would

32:10

[00 35:16.546 – 00:35:18.726] destroy AA while it was yet in its cradle.

32:14

[00 35:18.726 – 00:35:25.166] When I came into the fellowship, we had no traditions, no established precedents for guidance.

32:20

[00 35:25.166 – 00:35:35.246] Every problem, every new problem we faced was necessarily solved by trial and error, and sometimes we came very nearly resorting to our fists, and that's not

32:30

[00 35:35.246 – 00:35:38.386] the accepted way of winning friends and influencing people.

32:34

[00 35:38.386 – 00:35:39.506] I'm sure of that.

32:36

[00 35:39.506 – 00:35:42.886] We were immature and unstable.

32:38

[00 35:42.886 – 00:35:45.566] We argued for the sake of argument.

32:41

[00 35:45.566 – 00:35:51.486] About the only thing we could agree upon was that there were two sides to every question, our side and the wrong side.

32:50

[00 35:51.486 – 00:36:01.786] We, uh, appointed committees to look after this, and we appointed committees to look after that, and then we appointed committees to look after the committees

33:00

[00 36:01.786 – 00:36:03.566] so we could find more things to fight about.

33:04

[00 36:03.566 – 00:36:14.086] Well, this unhappy state of affairs gave birth to the idea of establishing a universal code of standards or ethics,

33:12

[00 36:14.086 – 00:36:19.286] which later became to know, came to be known as the traditions of, 12 traditions of AA.

33:18

[00 36:19.286 – 00:36:29.326] And through strict adherence to these traditions, AA eventually, order emerged from chaos, and it's

33:24

[00 36:29.326 – 00:36:32.406] established unity, which is ex- which is essential to our progress.

33:29

[00 36:32.406 – 00:36:40.006] And it's no exaggeration to say that AA owes its very life to strict adherence to those traditions.

33:36

[00 36:40.006 – 00:36:50.486] And the longer I am in AA, in AA, the more conscious I become of my individual responsibility of maintaining and conforming

33:44

[00 36:50.486 – 00:36:58.066] to those traditions so that the alcoholic of tomorrow will have the same chance for sobriety that I have today.

33:52

[00 36:58.066 – 00:37:06.886] Surely, that must be the sacred obligation of every man or woman who's gained sobriety through the AA program.

33:59

[00 37:06.886 – 00:37:16.306] If Abraham Lincoln had been in AA, I think he would have spoken about our individual responsibility in a manner something like this.

34:08

[00 37:16.306 – 00:37:27.346] One score and nine years ago, our co-founders brought forth a new plan, conceived in love and service, and

34:16

[00 37:27.346 – 00:37:34.786] dedicated to the proposition that the alcoholic can be restored by the grace of God and the help his fellow AAs.

34:24

[00 37:34.786 – 00:37:42.606] Today, we are engaged in a great humane effort to make that plan available to all who may be concerned.

34:32

[00 37:42.606 – 00:37:52.646] However, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot further that plan by mere word of mouth, but rather

34:39

[00 37:52.646 – 00:38:00.846] by assuming our individual responsibilities of personally carrying the message of AA to those who still suffer.

34:46

[00 38:00.846 – 00:38:10.266] The world will little note or long remember who we are or what we are, but what we do here will never be forgotten.

34:55

[00 38:10.266 – 00:38:20.486] It is for us who are willing and able to ever increase our efforts in this great field of endeavor, without hope of gain, reward,

35:05

[00 38:20.486 – 00:38:21.326] or recognition.

35:06

[00 38:21.326 – 00:38:30.246] It is ours to carry the torch and to work with increased devotion to the unfinished task which lies before us.

35:14

[00 38:30.246 – 00:38:41.506] It is for us to highly resolve that this new way of life, granted by God, shall not have been given in vain, and

35:24

[00 38:41.506 – 00:38:49.806] that this fellowship of AA, by AA, and for AA shall not perish from this earth.

35:30

[00 38:49.806 – 00:38:50.366] Thank you.

35:31

[00 38:50.366 – 00:39:10.786] Thank

35:32

[00 39:10.786 – 00:39:11.306] you, Tim.

35:33

[00 39:11.306 – 00:39:14.506] Wow.

35:34

[00 39:14.506 – 00:39:24.526] Uh, all I can say is, as Dewey was speaking, I got chills, and maybe that's 'cause the air conditioner's

35:41

[00 39:24.526 – 00:39:28.706] on, but I think it's 'cause I'm sitting next to Gail in Dr.

35:47

[00 39:28.706 – 00:39:39.645] Bob's house, knowing that the energy that Dewey talked about in his just brief little talk resonated

35:53

[00 39:39.645 – 00:39:40.986] from this home.

35:55

[00 39:40.986 – 00:39:43.326] This is where it started.

35:57

[00 39:43.326 – 00:39:53.366] This is where these guys came together and talked and worked through these things, and helped Bill, and, and encouraged Bill to do his work so Bill

36:08

[00 39:53.366 – 00:39:54.946] could do what he needed to do.

36:11

[00 39:54.946 – 00:39:57.946] Well, Tim, we're done with the presentation.

36:13

[00 39:57.946 – 00:40:05.466] So what I'd like to do now is open it up for Q&A, and, uh, I want you to know that Gail is here.

36:23

[00 40:05.466 – 00:40:07.286] This isn't just the Mike show.

36:26

[00 40:07.286 – 00:40:14.466] So I'm gonna let you, ask you to direct some questions to Gail, um, 'cause I don't want her to feel too lonely, folks.

36:35

[00 40:14.466 – 00:40:15.386] Oh, poor Gail.

36:37

[00 40:18.185 – 00:40:19.385] Thanks, Tim Yeah.

36:38

[00 40:19.385 – 00:40:19.965] All right.

36:39

[00 40:19.965 – 00:40:21.245] Thank you, Mike and Gail.

36:41

[00 40:21.245 – 00:40:30.665] And, uh, yes, anyone with questions, please use the raise hand function, and I will call on you as you raise your hands, and you can unmute to ask your question.

36:53

[00 40:30.665 – 00:40:34.255] Okay, we're done.

36:55

[00 40:34.255 – 00:40:36.325] And first up is Dave.

36:57

[00 40:36.325 – 00:40:37.125] You can unmute.

36:59

[00 40:37.125 – 00:40:42.485] Thanks, Tim.

37:00

[00 40:42.485 – 00:40:44.865] Thanks, Mike.

37:01

[00 40:44.865 – 00:40:49.005] And Gail, I just, I, I don't really have a question.

37:05

[00 40:49.005 – 00:40:57.245] I just wanted to say that I was, uh, when I did go up there to, uh, that was 24 years ago.

37:13

[00 40:57.245 – 00:40:59.545] I don't know why I'm looking for you.

37:17

[00 40:59.545 – 00:41:09.565] But, uh, you know, when I, I, I, I, I left the gatehouse and I went over to the

37:24

[00 41:09.565 – 00:41:09.665] Dr.

37:25

[00 41:09.665 – 00:41:13.465] Bob's, and I walked up them steps like Mike did.

37:29

[00 41:13.465 – 00:41:14.245] Mm-hmm.

37:30

[00 41:14.245 – 00:41:18.105] And, and when I knocked on the door, you answered the door.

37:35

[00 41:18.105 – 00:41:24.865] And you did say, I, I, I think it was, you did say welcome ho-home, but I, I...

37:42

[00 41:24.865 – 00:41:30.305] There was a older fella walking down the stairs, and I says, "Hey, is that Dr.

37:48

[00 41:30.305 – 00:41:35.665] Bob?" Because I was, like, playing like I was D- Bill Wilson.

37:53

[00 41:35.665 – 00:41:38.685] But, uh, but, uh, you know.

37:55

[00 41:38.685 – 00:41:38.925] Yeah.

37:56

[00 41:38.925 – 00:41:45.125] And then you, we came in and, and, uh, and you showed me around, and it was just a great...

38:04

[00 41:45.125 – 00:41:47.575] And, and now I get to see you- Mm-hmm ...

38:08

[00 41:47.575 – 00:41:49.745] you know, 24 years later.

38:10

[00 41:49.745 – 00:41:59.085] And you know, I've seen you a couple times already, but it's just amazing that, uh, because that, that was a spiritual experience up there at that time.

38:20

[00 41:59.085 – 00:42:09.085] And, uh, and, and, uh, and you took that picture of me in the, the chair a- and, and you told me about the, the Bible there, that, uh,

38:32

[00 42:09.085 – 00:42:13.185] uh, Ann read the Bible there, the St- Saint James.

38:36

[00 42:13.185 – 00:42:21.505] And, uh, then I went down in the basement, and I think I sh- see the little movie, and then went back upstairs and all that.

38:46

[00 42:21.505 – 00:42:27.204] But yeah, that was great, so I appreciate it, and I'm glad you're still around and I'm around.

38:53

[00 42:27.204 – 00:42:31.885] And, uh, it was a, it's a blessing that I get to meet you again, so.

38:59

[00 42:31.885 – 00:42:33.745] Dave, you need to come back.

39:02

[00 42:33.745 – 00:42:35.005] We have three homes now.

39:04

[00 42:35.005 – 00:42:35.905] We have a campus.

39:06

[00 42:35.905 – 00:42:36.875] Yeah.

39:07

[00 42:36.875 – 00:42:41.185] And so we have a museum and a library, and lot.

39:11

[00 42:41.185 – 00:42:43.465] So if you'll come back, I'll take you around again.

39:15

[00 42:43.465 – 00:42:46.505] And, and you mentioned about Ann and the Bible.

39:19

[00 42:46.505 – 00:42:56.545] You know, as Mike was talking, you know, she's truly the mother of AA, and when she would be reading from the Bible and she would be working with the new people, she called it spiritual pablum.

39:33

[00 42:56.545 – 00:43:04.405] And I often think of, of what Ann was doing, is just feeding and nurturing those new members, just like a mother would.

39:42

[00 43:04.405 – 00:43:06.775] She said spiritual- Pablum ...

39:44

[00 43:06.775 – 00:43:07.525] spiritual what?

39:45

[00 43:07.525 – 00:43:09.215] Pablum, pablum.

39:46

[00 43:09.215 – 00:43:10.745] You know how you feed a baby pablum?

39:49

[00 43:10.745 – 00:43:12.255] Pablum, okay.

39:51

[00 43:12.255 – 00:43:13.445] Pablum was something you feed a baby.

39:53

[00 43:13.445 – 00:43:18.985] So e- she was actually feeding them spiritually, and she called it spiritual pablum.

39:59

[00 43:18.985 – 00:43:20.045] Oh, okay.

40:00

[00 43:20.045 – 00:43:20.865] Yeah.

40:01

[00 43:20.865 – 00:43:24.074] Uh- I'd love to see you again, so think about coming back- Yeah ...

40:06

[00 43:24.074 – 00:43:24.885] so you can see it.

40:08

[00 43:24.885 – 00:43:27.245] It's all different now from when you were here.

40:12

[00 43:27.245 – 00:43:27.734] Yeah.

40:13

[00 43:27.734 – 00:43:27.734] Yeah.

40:14

[00 43:27.734 – 00:43:28.445] Well, thank you.

40:15

[00 43:28.445 – 00:43:30.125] You're welcome, Dave.

40:17

[00 43:30.125 – 00:43:30.375] Thanks.

40:17

[00 43:30.375 – 00:43:31.485] Glad you're here, Dave.

40:19

[00 43:31.485 – 00:43:33.905] Thank you, Dave.

40:21

[00 43:33.905 – 00:43:35.285] And next up is Gary.

40:23

[00 43:35.285 – 00:43:36.125] You can unmute.

40:24

[00 43:36.125 – 00:43:38.525] Take care of your ear.

40:27

[00 43:38.525 – 00:43:39.385] Yeah.

40:27

[00 43:39.385 – 00:43:39.655] I love you.

40:29

[00 43:39.655 – 00:43:40.305] Hi.

40:30

[00 43:40.305 – 00:43:50.574] Uh, Gail, um, I would like you to share when you started the library project, and at what ti- you know, and

40:38

[00 43:50.574 – 00:44:00.245] tell us about, uh, how many books there are, and, and how you pioneered this project in the, in the, uh, third building over the last couple years.

40:49

[00 44:00.245 – 00:44:01.245] Would you share that with us?

40:52

[00 44:01.245 – 00:44:02.705] Oh, I would love to.

40:54

[00 44:02.705 – 00:44:03.225] Are you kidding me?

40:56

[00 44:03.225 – 00:44:04.005] That's my baby.

40:57

[00 44:04.005 – 00:44:14.005] I always say, "You build the crib, and the baby will come." Uh, a lot of books were not anymore in Akron, and a lot of times people, if they did have them, it was

41:11

[00 44:14.005 – 00:44:14.785] under glass.

41:12

[00 44:14.785 – 00:44:21.705] And I had a vision that, um, maybe we could have a library, but people could go in and really see the books.

41:21

[00 44:21.705 – 00:44:24.285] You know, Gary, I can see your library right now.

41:25

[00 44:24.285 – 00:44:30.565] If I walked into your home, I would know what was important to you by just looking at your library.

41:33

[00 44:30.565 – 00:44:33.745] And I wanted people to be able to walk into Dr.

41:37

[00 44:33.745 – 00:44:36.845] Bob's library and n- know who Dr.

41:40

[00 44:36.845 – 00:44:41.064] Bob was on their own, without having to read what an author thought Dr.

41:46

[00 44:41.064 – 00:44:42.685] Bob's spirituality was.

41:47

[00 44:42.685 – 00:44:46.625] They could come in for themselves and see how open-minded Bob was.

41:52

[00 44:46.625 – 00:44:50.485] So we were able to get the Oxford Group books, through a lot of help.

41:58

[00 44:50.485 – 00:45:00.565] A lot of people volunteered with this project, and we are able now to capture what they were reading for those four and a half years during the Flying Blind h- time.

42:10

[00 45:00.565 – 00:45:01.495] We weren't AA.

42:12

[00 45:01.495 – 00:45:05.245] We don't even get AA literature till 1951.

42:15

[00 45:05.245 – 00:45:07.165] The Big Book wasn't even conference-approved.

42:17

[00 45:07.165 – 00:45:17.165] So both co-founders were recommending different pieces of literature, and they were certainly reading certain books that eventually even influenced the writing of The

42:26

[00 45:17.165 – 00:45:17.805] Big Book.

42:28

[00 45:17.805 – 00:45:24.325] And now either, whether you come to see that library, which is filled with all the books that we know were in Dr.

42:37

[00 45:24.325 – 00:45:27.585] Bob's library, and some of them ended up at Brown.

42:41

[00 45:27.585 – 00:45:35.145] And by doing some research, we were able to find the ones that are at Brown and, and have them here for people to see.

42:50

[00 45:35.145 – 00:45:36.135] Not Do- Dr.

42:52

[00 45:36.135 – 00:45:42.205] Bob's originals, but certainly the same books he had in his library when the kids split it up, the li-...

43:00

[00 45:42.205 – 00:45:43.665] He dies in 1950.

43:01

[00 45:43.665 – 00:45:49.925] The kids split up the books in 1952, and I would say that Dr.

43:06

[00 45:49.925 – 00:45:53.305] Bob's library is pretty complete at this point.

43:10

[00 45:53.305 – 00:46:01.085] But I wanna share with anyone who's listening, if you don't get to come to Akron and visit that library, you can visit it online.

43:19

[00 46:01.085 – 00:46:03.045] If you go into Dr.

43:22

[00 46:03.045 – 00:46:13.365] Bob's home online, and you scroll down where it says Library, the books that are in the library are online

43:29

[00 46:13.365 – 00:46:16.045] now, and there's PDFs attached to them.

43:32

[00 46:16.045 – 00:46:25.625] You'll have to s- put your name and your email in, and you can enter into that library, and you can read books from that library at home in your living room.

43:45

[00 46:25.625 – 00:46:31.645] So we're trying to make it as accessible as we can for people who wanna study where all this all came from.

43:53

[00 46:31.645 – 00:46:41.765] You know, basically the Oxford Group is the core reading material where this came from, and then there was a lot of supportive material, like with Shoemaker and Fosdick.

44:04

[00 46:41.765 – 00:46:43.035] Because you know what?

44:06

[00 46:43.035 – 00:46:45.365] We didn't have computers back then.

44:09

[00 46:45.365 – 00:46:46.865] TV had barely come in.

44:11

[00 46:46.865 – 00:46:52.265] They didn't have iPhones and iPads and all that, so what were those early people doing?

44:17

[00 46:52.265 – 00:47:00.775] They were reading, and they were trading books, and they were sharing what they were finding in those books with each other, so that was a big part of that early community

44:30

[00 47:01.650 – 00:47:04.890] So thank you for, um, mentioning that, uh, Gary.

44:33

[00 47:04.890 – 00:47:06.330] I'm pretty excited about that.

44:36

[00 47:06.330 – 00:47:09.710] I don't think there's another ver- library like it.

44:39

[00 47:09.710 – 00:47:12.280] Thank you.

44:40

[00 47:12.280 – 00:47:14.110] What, what is that website, Gail?

44:43

[00 47:14.110 – 00:47:15.750] DrBob'sHome.

44:44

[00 47:15.750 – 00:47:18.410] Dot- Org.

44:45

[00 47:18.410 – 00:47:22.230] DrBob'sHome.org.

44:46

[00 47:22.230 – 00:47:23.810] All right.

44:47

[00 47:23.810 – 00:47:26.350] Thank you, and next question is from Barb.

44:51

[00 47:26.350 – 00:47:27.270] You can unmute.

44:52

[00 47:27.270 – 00:47:34.570] Thanks for this, um, meeting tonight, guys.

44:55

[00 47:34.570 – 00:47:35.470] It was kind of interesting.

44:57

[00 47:35.470 – 00:47:43.300] I was leaving a, um, rehab, and the women that were speaking with me there that brought the AA meeting in with me were talking about Akron and, um, Dr.

45:09

[00 47:43.300 – 00:47:45.610] Bob's house, and some of his spirituality.

45:12

[00 47:45.610 – 00:47:55.750] But what I missed when you were doing the tour, which I did appreciate the tour, I was there, um, two years ago or so now, um, I missed why the, um,

45:24

[00 47:55.750 – 00:47:59.030] attic was closed and what you guys are doing up there.

45:29

[00 47:59.030 – 00:48:01.889] Um, you kind of, you know, faded out on that.

45:33

[00 48:01.889 – 00:48:06.850] Um, so just, you know, wondering what's going on up there, but pretty exciting stuff, I'm sure.

45:39

[00 48:06.850 – 00:48:06.880] Thanks.

45:40

[00 48:06.880 – 00:48:08.270] Well, you snuck up those steps.

45:43

[00 48:08.270 – 00:48:10.510] I was about ready to jerk you back down.

45:46

[00 48:10.510 – 00:48:20.550] Um, what happened is the guy that was working on the attic got an infection in his finger, and there was this operation, so we're still waiting on finishing the attic,

45:58

[00 48:20.550 – 00:48:22.310] but we call that the Vermont room.

46:01

[00 48:22.310 – 00:48:24.170] We have the baby crib up there.

46:04

[00 48:24.170 – 00:48:26.530] We have his father's Bible up there.

46:07

[00 48:26.530 – 00:48:27.770] We have the christening gown.

46:09

[00 48:27.770 – 00:48:31.330] Um, and we have pictures of the, like Dr.

46:13

[00 48:31.330 – 00:48:34.130] Bob as a baby, and it's a really beautiful thing.

46:17

[00 48:34.130 – 00:48:35.090] A lot on St.

46:19

[00 48:35.090 – 00:48:37.450] Johnsbury, uh, where Dr.

46:21

[00 48:37.450 – 00:48:46.510] Bob was raised, his home there, his school, and, um, Christian Endeavor, uh, a newspaper that Mike had shared with me that would have been something Dr.

46:31

[00 48:46.510 – 00:48:47.369] Bob would have read.

46:33

[00 48:47.369 – 00:48:52.730] So if you want to know more about that background, uh, when that attic is finished, you can visit there.

46:41

[00 48:52.730 – 00:48:55.290] But we have been trying to take care of that home.

46:46

[00 48:55.290 – 00:49:00.390] And, um, right now there, there was a lot of repair work that needed to be done up there.

46:53

[00 49:00.390 – 00:49:03.070] So stay tuned and more will be revealed.

46:56

[00 49:03.070 – 00:49:09.810] Thank you for the question, Barb.

46:59

[00 49:09.810 – 00:49:11.690] And next up is Drew.

47:01

[00 49:11.690 – 00:49:14.410] Oh, Drew.

47:02

[00 49:14.410 – 00:49:15.170] Drew?

47:03

[00 49:15.170 – 00:49:16.210] Drew who?

47:04

[00 49:16.210 – 00:49:17.079] Different Drew.

47:05

[00 49:17.079 – 00:49:17.829] Andrew.

47:06

[00 49:17.829 – 00:49:19.550] Andrew.

47:07

[00 49:19.550 – 00:49:20.290] That Drew.

47:08

[00 49:20.290 – 00:49:20.410] Okay.

47:09

[00 49:20.410 – 00:49:22.390] Known me as Andrew Shoulders.

47:11

[00 49:22.390 – 00:49:24.230] All right, Andrew.

47:12

[00 49:24.230 – 00:49:26.730] T- Ask Gail some questions.

47:15

[00 49:26.730 – 00:49:27.700] Thank you for- Hi, Andrew.

47:17

[00 49:27.700 – 00:49:28.910] I'll ask Gail.

47:18

[00 49:28.910 – 00:49:30.610] I'm always asking Mike.

47:20

[00 49:30.610 – 00:49:32.410] I'll ask Gail today.

47:22

[00 49:32.410 – 00:49:34.050] As Gail sees it.

47:24

[00 49:34.050 – 00:49:35.090] Good to see you.

47:26

[00 49:35.090 – 00:49:36.270] As Gail sees it.

47:28

[00 49:36.270 – 00:49:37.590] Good to see you too, Mike.

47:30

[00 49:37.590 – 00:49:47.490] You mentioned quiet time was a very powerful time for, uh, Anne Smith and her contribution to early AA.

47:38

[00 49:47.490 – 00:49:48.710] Yes.

47:38

[00 49:48.710 – 00:49:58.869] When was it that quiet time became not as important as, let's say, today's meeting attendance,

47:45

[00 49:58.870 – 00:50:00.130] meeting makers make it?

47:47

[00 50:00.130 – 00:50:01.850] What happened?

47:48

[00 50:01.850 – 00:50:09.970] Something as powerful as quiet time and what sustained our early members, what happened?

47:53

[00 50:09.970 – 00:50:10.680] Why did we change?

47:55

[00 50:10.680 – 00:50:11.830] Well, we, we weren't always AA.

47:58

[00 50:11.830 – 00:50:14.030] We were four and a half years were Oxford Group.

48:02

[00 50:14.030 – 00:50:16.750] That is the main practice of the Oxford Group.

48:06

[00 50:16.750 – 00:50:23.410] But it had been around even before the Oxford Group, I'm finding out, but it certainly was a main practice of the Oxford Group.

48:15

[00 50:23.410 – 00:50:26.890] So coming out of Akron, we're coming straight out of the Oxford Group.

48:20

[00 50:26.890 – 00:50:29.870] So it's gonna go straight into AA for a while.

48:24

[00 50:29.870 – 00:50:36.710] But obviously, AA is not the Oxford Group, so it doesn't have quite the emphasis that the Oxford Group had.

48:32

[00 50:36.710 – 00:50:39.710] But it was considered the most important part of the day.

48:37

[00 50:39.710 – 00:50:42.330] Y- That you'd go...

48:38

[00 50:42.330 – 00:50:48.570] And you had a partner in the Oxford Group, and that partner was like a sponsor.

48:45

[00 50:48.570 – 00:50:57.650] And part of that is when you got your guidance in the morning, and sometimes in a group they would do with pencil and paper, and they would write it down, but you shared that.

48:58

[00 50:57.650 – 00:51:00.910] There was this sharing that went on, and it was called checking.

49:03

[00 51:00.910 – 00:51:04.050] Like you would check in with your sponsor, you would check in with your partner.

49:09

[00 51:04.050 – 00:51:06.050] And you would run it by...

49:11

[00 51:06.050 – 00:51:10.770] Now, one of the things we haven't talked about is we didn't have the 12 steps.

49:17

[00 51:10.770 – 00:51:13.450] The only yardsticks we had, according to Dr.

49:21

[00 51:13.450 – 00:51:20.270] Bob, to measure behavior was four words, honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love.

49:26

[00 51:20.270 – 00:51:23.090] And there were four questions that went, went with that.

49:30

[00 51:23.090 – 00:51:30.150] Is one about to think, say, or do, right or wrong, true or false, ugly or beautiful, and how does it affect the other guy?

49:39

[00 51:30.150 – 00:51:35.970] That way you could tell, is your guidance coming from the Holy Spirit or is it coming from your ego?

49:47

[00 51:35.970 – 00:51:43.190] So they did that, and that was es- a really important part of it, 'cause you know the ego will dress up as a higher power and trick you.

49:58

[00 51:43.190 – 00:51:45.009] So we never go alone.

50:01

[00 51:45.009 – 00:51:47.870] You know about that, right, Andrew?

50:03

[00 51:47.870 – 00:51:49.050] I do.

50:04

[00 51:49.050 – 00:51:59.090] I'm sure, I'm sure that Gail helped you understand that, but if you open the 12 and 12 to step 11, you'll see

50:12

[00 51:59.090 – 00:52:09.170] where Bill says that, "Self-examination, prayer, and meditation when logically interwoven create an unshakable foundation for life."

50:19

[00 52:09.170 – 00:52:17.630] If you reread that chapter and understand quiet time, I think you'll see the effect that Bob and Anne had on Bill.

50:27

[00 52:17.630 – 00:52:21.090] As a matter of fact, you know, we hear a lot about Dr.

50:33

[00 52:21.090 – 00:52:24.810] Bob having not really contributed to the Big Book.

50:36

[00 52:24.810 – 00:52:27.090] And, uh, I just want to address that in Dr.

50:40

[00 52:27.090 – 00:52:33.510] Bob's talk, you know, Bill came and lived in this home with Bob and Anne.

50:46

[00 52:33.510 – 00:52:39.420] Bill made the coffee while Anne Smith- Did the quiet time ...

50:51

[00 52:39.420 – 00:52:42.950] did the quiet time and the readings with the guys, okay?

50:55

[00 52:42.950 – 00:52:47.290] The information, the conversations that Dr.

50:58

[00 52:47.290 – 00:52:51.290] Bob and Bill had, they were working with these guys.

51:02

[00 52:51.290 – 00:52:54.110] They had some failures, they had some successes.

51:05

[00 52:54.110 – 00:52:57.030] They started with Sister Ignatia got involved.

51:08

[00 52:57.030 – 00:53:07.230] Well, a lot of the stuff that ca- that happened in those three months and the many months after with the phone calls and the letters

51:18

[00 53:07.230 – 00:53:13.970] between Bob and, and Bill, I find it very difficult that, that Dr.

51:24

[00 53:13.970 – 00:53:18.390] Bob did not influence Bill and influence Bill in his writing.

51:28

[00 53:18.390 – 00:53:28.430] And when I get into the, uh, the, the steps, and you study the steps, not just in the Big Book, but also

51:37

[00 53:28.430 – 00:53:35.270] as Bill elaborated on them and expanded on them in the 12 and 12, you're gonna see Akron all over it, okay?

51:45

[00 53:35.270 – 00:53:41.230] Gail just handed me something, and, uh, it's what I was just talking about.

51:50

[00 53:41.230 – 00:53:42.310] Isn't that amazing?

51:52

[00 53:42.310 – 00:53:43.860] I didn't write this-

51:54

[00 53:44.030 – 00:53:44.790] 12 Steps.

51:55

[00 53:44.790 – 00:53:47.390] I had nothing to do with the writing of them.

51:59

[00 53:47.390 – 00:53:57.690] I think I had something to do with them indirectly, because after the aforementioned June 10th episode, Bill came to live in our house

52:08

[00 53:57.690 – 00:54:07.660] and stayed for about three months, and there was hardly a night in the three months that we didn't sit up till 2:00, 3:00 discussing these things.

52:18

[00 54:07.660 – 00:54:17.850] And it would be hard for me to conceive that something wasn't said at, during those nightly discussions around the kitchen

52:26

[00 54:17.850 – 00:54:23.850] table that influenced the actual writing of The 12 Steps and the book.

52:31

[00 54:23.850 – 00:54:25.790] There's no question about it.

52:33

[00 54:25.790 – 00:54:36.070] And we are so grateful for the contribution of Gail, being involved in rescuing this house, being involved in,

52:40

[00 54:36.070 – 00:54:37.910] in this learning center.

52:42

[00 54:37.910 – 00:54:38.270] Thank you.

52:43

[00 54:38.270 – 00:54:41.410] And I mean, think about the work that this lady has done.

52:48

[00 54:41.410 – 00:54:44.130] I am just honored to be here.

52:51

[00 54:44.130 – 00:54:46.930] I, I, I mean that sincerely.

52:54

[00 54:46.930 – 00:54:50.330] And I have just had a, a blessed time with Gail.

52:58

[00 54:50.330 – 00:54:59.360] And, uh, and I, and I, I w- I wanna tell you guys, man, i- if you got a couple extra dollars, you know, y- y- Dr.

53:09

[00 54:59.360 – 00:55:03.530] Bob's house is a, it's an established foundation.

53:12

[00 55:03.530 – 00:55:08.750] It's here, it's doing wonderful things, and it's open every day.

53:16

[00 55:08.750 – 00:55:11.180] And the coffee's been on- So- ...

53:19

[00 55:11.180 – 00:55:12.430] every day of the year ...

53:21

[00 55:12.430 – 00:55:13.490] so please come ...

53:23

[00 55:13.490 – 00:55:14.270] hospitality.

53:24

[00 55:14.270 – 00:55:15.030] Please come.

53:25

[00 55:15.030 – 00:55:15.710] Tim?

53:25

[00 55:15.710 – 00:55:19.670] Thank you for the question, Andrew.

53:28

[00 55:19.670 – 00:55:19.780] Thank you, Andrew.

53:29

[00 55:19.780 – 00:55:20.930] Next up is Win.

53:31

[00 55:20.930 – 00:55:21.830] You can unmute.

53:33

[00 55:21.830 – 00:55:30.810] Well, y- yes, you stole my thunder with the, the list of books and what happened to the upper room.

53:41

[00 55:30.810 – 00:55:40.830] But, uh, all I can say is, uh, uh, I, I, I also, uh, I thought that Anne made the coffee, but I'm glad to

53:50

[00 55:40.830 – 00:55:42.590] hear that Bill made the coffee.

53:53

[00 55:42.590 – 00:55:43.640] He was here.

53:54

[00 55:43.640 – 00:55:47.430] And, uh- Yeah, he- And so you really messed up with my, my comment then.

54:00

[00 55:47.430 – 00:55:48.430] All right.

54:01

[00 55:48.430 – 00:55:49.310] Thanks a lot, guys.

54:03

[00 55:49.310 – 00:55:51.170] This is absolutely wonderful.

54:05

[00 55:51.170 – 00:55:51.989] Bye-bye.

54:06

[00 55:51.989 – 00:55:54.550] It's so glad that you're back with us, Win.

54:10

[00 55:54.550 – 00:55:56.300] Thank you, and it's so nice- Yeah ...

54:13

[00 55:56.300 – 00:55:57.550] to see you again.

54:15

[00 55:57.550 – 00:55:57.820] We missed you.

54:16

[00 55:57.820 – 00:55:58.070] Thank you.

54:17

[00 55:58.070 – 00:56:00.550] No more conflict right now with other meetings.

54:20

[00 56:00.550 – 00:56:01.710] Great.

54:21

[00 56:01.710 – 00:56:03.850] Thank you, Win.

54:23

[00 56:03.850 – 00:56:05.790] And next up is Thomas.

54:25

[00 56:05.790 – 00:56:08.410] Oh, Thomas.

54:26

[00 56:08.410 – 00:56:08.999] It's for you.

54:28

[00 56:08.999 – 00:56:15.630] I have a question in regards to comments that were made on the website drbobshome.org.

54:34

[00 56:15.630 – 00:56:23.190] It was stated that you're able to access a list of contents of Dr.

54:39

[00 56:23.190 – 00:56:24.950] Bob's library.

54:41

[00 56:24.950 – 00:56:25.230] Right.

54:41

[00 56:25.230 – 00:56:32.450] When I click on history, and then it downloads, uh, four options, and I click on Dr.

54:48

[00 56:32.450 – 00:56:36.309] Bob's library, then I scroll down in Dr.

54:51

[00 56:36.309 – 00:56:44.370] Bob's library and at the bottom it just says, "Library contents coming soon." Am I- Oh, you're on the wrong p- part.

55:00

[00 56:44.370 – 00:56:47.610] Oh, yeah I want you to go to the, go to the top menu bar.

55:06

[00 56:47.610 – 00:56:48.570] Yes.

55:07

[00 56:48.570 – 00:56:50.570] That says library up there.

55:09

[00 56:50.570 – 00:56:51.190] Try that.

55:10

[00 56:51.190 – 00:56:55.790] Don't go to the historic part that they, the, the IT guys haven't fixed that yet.

55:16

[00 56:55.790 – 00:56:59.250] Go to where it says library up at the top bar.

55:21

[00 56:59.250 – 00:57:00.630] Okay.

55:22

[00 57:00.630 – 00:57:02.150] Now scroll down.

55:23

[00 57:02.150 – 00:57:06.230] And it, it pulls down, uh, the- All the way to the form.

55:28

[00 57:06.230 – 00:57:07.490] At the bottom?

55:30

[00 57:07.490 – 00:57:11.930] Yeah, at the for- there's a form at the bottom with a few lines, so you put your name and your email.

55:38

[00 57:11.930 – 00:57:13.250] Okay.

55:39

[00 57:13.250 – 00:57:13.860] Go.

55:40

[00 57:13.860 – 00:57:14.150] Yeah.

55:41

[00 57:14.150 – 00:57:14.770] Good.

55:41

[00 57:14.770 – 00:57:20.390] So then, so then you w- you would get, uh, s- emailed a list of the contents?

55:48

[00 57:20.390 – 00:57:23.810] Yeah, well, you'll get i- you'll get access to them, yes.

55:52

[00 57:23.810 – 00:57:25.910] Thank you, Gail.

55:54

[00 57:25.910 – 00:57:26.970] You're welcome.

55:55

[00 57:26.970 – 00:57:35.610] Sorry, I was just signing up for that right now.

55:59

[00 57:35.610 – 00:57:38.610] Um- Next up is Jay.

56:01

[00 57:38.610 – 00:57:40.740] But that reminds me- You can unmute ...

56:04

[00 57:40.740 – 00:57:44.150] email too, that you, you get on our web, uh, you get a newsletter.

56:10

[00 57:44.150 – 00:57:45.150] Yep.

56:11

[00 57:45.150 – 00:57:46.690] Hey, my lovelies.

56:12

[00 57:46.690 – 00:57:47.570] Hey.

56:13

[00 57:47.570 – 00:57:48.150] Hi, Jay.

56:14

[00 57:48.150 – 00:57:48.950] Hi, Jay.

56:15

[00 57:48.950 – 00:57:50.270] We love you too.

56:17

[00 57:50.270 – 00:58:00.570] Um, so what's the most surprising thing that you've, uh, you've, uh, discovered

56:22

[00 58:00.570 – 00:58:01.210] recently?

56:23

[00 58:01.210 – 00:58:06.150] And, um, uh, yeah.

56:25

[00 58:06.150 – 00:58:12.750] Jay, when you're surrounded by all those books and you sit in the inside, the books start talking.

56:32

[00 58:12.750 – 00:58:14.270] There's energy in those books.

56:34

[00 58:14.270 – 00:58:15.730] You can feel it.

56:36

[00 58:15.730 – 00:58:20.430] And then they start to like, I'm starting to learn from them just because they're there.

56:42

[00 58:20.430 – 00:58:30.450] Uh, for example, um, I got Thy Kingdom Come, I don't know if you knew that I found that, the book that you told me that Bob had sent to Bill, and that he

56:55

[00 58:30.450 – 00:58:34.390] had read it and he wanted Bill to read it and get back to him and don't wait too long.

57:03

[00 58:34.390 – 00:58:36.890] So of course I knew he read it, so I read it.

57:08

[00 58:36.890 – 00:58:41.190] But I could never find, I could only find, um, The Return of Arthur Conan Doyle.

57:14

[00 58:41.190 – 00:58:48.780] I could never find the real book, which is the original book, and we now have it and it's signed by the author, and that was pretty exciting.

57:25

[00 58:48.780 – 00:58:55.390] But as I started to do some research on Arthur Conan Doyle, I learned that he was friends with Houdini.

57:33

[00 58:55.390 – 00:58:58.370] So, you know, I'm going down rabbit holes, Jay.

57:37

[00 58:58.370 – 00:59:08.850] I'm going down rabbit holes, and then there's a book along with the cosmic consciousness books, there's a book right up next to it, and it's on, on, uh, cyclical

57:48

[00 59:08.910 – 00:59:11.770] beliefs, true and false, something like that.

57:51

[00 59:11.770 – 00:59:20.690] And Conan Doyle and, um, Houdini are in that book, and their argument that they were having over that seance they did for Houdini.

58:00

[00 59:20.690 – 00:59:22.270] So it's the, the...

58:02

[00 59:22.270 – 00:59:24.440] You wanna know what the most exciting thing is?

58:06

[00 59:24.440 – 00:59:34.500] He had a book by Arthur Conan Doyle, and some of these books nobody knows about because everybody thinks from s- some of the authors that have kinda hijacked

58:17

[00 59:34.500 – 00:59:37.170] him in a way and kinda put him in an agenda.

58:22

[00 59:37.170 – 00:59:39.650] He was so open-minded, Jay.

58:24

[00 59:39.650 – 00:59:48.350] And, and so I'm learning by using AI and going into, like, we never heard of some of these books 'cause they were at Brown University.

58:34

[00 59:48.350 – 00:59:50.590] Um, and they're stored off site.

58:37

[00 59:50.590 – 00:59:54.910] But now they're in the library, and people can come and learn that Dr.

58:42

[00 59:54.910 – 00:59:58.610] Bob, as well as Bill, believed in things beyond the veil.

58:47

[00 59:58.610 – 01:00:02.510] You know, fourth dimension, more fourth dimension.

58:50

[01 00:02.510 – 01:00:09.680] And, uh, that was really, it's really exciting and wonderful to learn more about Bob, and kinda opens a lotta doors.

58:58

[01 00:09.680 – 01:00:16.790] I mean, when you come in there and you, you see that one bookshelf where many of those books are, and you go, "Wow, Bob." I don't know.

59:09

[01 00:16.790 – 01:00:18.550] He was not ever any one thing.

59:12

[01 00:18.550 – 01:00:22.330] He was just an open-minded, he was scientific.

59:15

[01 00:22.330 – 01:00:26.140] Another thing I'm finding out is he's very, he's studying-

59:19

[01 00:27.555 – 01:00:30.555] Law, spiritual law, scientific law.

59:21

[01 00:30.555 – 01:00:33.335] And, uh, it's such a surprise.

59:24

[01 00:33.335 – 01:00:34.195] You know?

59:25

[01 00:34.195 – 01:00:35.095] It's such a surprise.

59:27

[01 00:35.095 – 01:00:44.734] And then it kind of gets fun when you got William James in there, and somebody just sent me, um, McCauley's, uh, mission, the book on that.

59:37

[01 00:44.734 – 01:00:54.935] So you start to build a story up about Samuel Hadley being in varieties of religious experience, which

59:44

[01 00:54.935 – 01:01:00.015] influenced Jung, which, I mean, it's, it's just all opening up.

59:49

[01 01:00.015 – 01:01:07.195] It's, the stories are unraveling in there because all the material is there, and I'm just bouncing off of books.

59:57

[01 01:07.195 – 01:01:08.044] Mm-hmm.

59:57

[01 01:08.044 – 01:01:09.475] So thanks for asking that.

60:00

[01 01:09.475 – 01:01:11.595] You got to come back and share the fun.

60:03

[01 01:11.595 – 01:01:13.155] Sure, I, I will.

60:05

[01 01:13.155 – 01:01:23.355] I want you to know that right now, um, every night I'm reading Janine a little, about two or three pages of

60:14

[01 01:23.355 – 01:01:26.415] Paul Brunton's- Yeah ...

60:15

[01 01:26.415 – 01:01:28.295] Search for Secret India.

60:17

[01 01:28.295 – 01:01:29.075] Yes.

60:18

[01 01:29.075 – 01:01:31.535] Which is one of Bob's books.

60:20

[01 01:31.535 – 01:01:31.725] Yes.

60:21

[01 01:31.725 – 01:01:38.135] And it's just gotten to the part where Brunton's, uh, being introduced to Ramana Maharshi.

60:27

[01 01:38.135 – 01:01:48.375] So, you know, when you start talking about the great Indian sages and the fact that Ramakrishna and all those people also, um,

60:36

[01 01:48.375 – 01:01:50.035] floated through Bob's library.

60:38

[01 01:50.035 – 01:01:59.315] And of course the, the f- the fun line is that Bill said, you know, "I didn't, I don't read much," he said.

60:47

[01 01:59.315 – 01:02:02.175] "But Bob, on the other hand- Yes ...

60:50

[01 02:02.175 – 01:02:06.405] had a great esoteric library." And, uh, it's- Uh-huh.

60:54

[01 02:06.405 – 01:02:07.915] And psychic literature ...

60:55

[01 02:07.915 – 01:02:08.355] quite Yeah.

60:56

[01 02:08.355 – 01:02:12.785] So anyway, thanks for everything you're doing, and, uh- You're welcome ...

61:01

[01 02:12.785 – 01:02:13.455] we'll keep it up.

61:03

[01 02:13.455 – 01:02:14.245] Thanks.

61:03

[01 02:14.245 – 01:02:15.115] Thank you, Jay.

61:05

[01 02:15.115 – 01:02:15.755] Good to see you.

61:07

[01 02:15.755 – 01:02:15.805] Yeah.

61:07

[01 02:15.805 – 01:02:17.235] Thank you for all the support.

61:10

[01 02:17.235 – 01:02:21.495] Thank you, Jay.

61:11

[01 02:21.495 – 01:02:23.735] And now our next question is Ryan.

61:14

[01 02:23.735 – 01:02:24.515] You can unmute.

61:16

[01 02:24.515 – 01:02:25.815] Oh, this is Ryan.

61:18

[01 02:25.815 – 01:02:28.275] Oh, no, I don't think we're gonna take Ryan.

61:21

[01 02:28.275 – 01:02:29.915] We're done, aren't we?

61:23

[01 02:29.915 – 01:02:30.055] Yeah.

61:24

[01 02:30.055 – 01:02:30.985] Where's Ryan?

61:25

[01 02:30.985 – 01:02:31.875] Is Ryan- I just want to...

61:28

[01 02:31.875 – 01:02:33.305] Hey, I just wanted to- Hi, Ryan ...

61:31

[01 02:33.305 – 01:02:35.585] there is, there- Hey, Ryan.

61:33

[01 02:35.585 – 01:02:35.635] Hi, Ryan ...

61:34

[01 02:35.635 – 01:02:37.095] there, there is, there is no question.

61:37

[01 02:37.095 – 01:02:44.615] I just want to comment and thank, uh, uh, Mike and Gail for representing the home very well.

61:44

[01 02:44.615 – 01:02:47.615] I knew you, I knew you would, and you always do.

61:49

[01 02:47.615 – 01:02:52.255] And most importantly, thanks for, uh, just educating all of us.

61:53

[01 02:52.255 – 01:02:54.055] I love the tapes, Mike.

61:55

[01 02:54.055 – 01:03:04.275] Uh, uh, with the tapes and the tour, uh, you really made me feel, and I'm sure

62:02

[01 03:04.275 – 01:03:14.335] most of us feel, what really happened at that home, what, uh, flowed through that home and out of that home, and truly was love

62:12

[01 03:14.335 – 01:03:18.335] and service from Bob, from Annie, to the kids.

62:15

[01 03:18.335 – 01:03:27.795] And that's really what we try to do at 855, is just educate everybody on what happened there, and what they were like, and what it's like today.

62:26

[01 03:27.795 – 01:03:32.035] And, uh, just thank you for representing, uh, the home tonight.

62:30

[01 03:32.035 – 01:03:33.875] Very, very nice job.

62:32

[01 03:33.875 – 01:03:35.155] That's all.

62:33

[01 03:35.155 – 01:03:39.015] By the way, everybody, Ryan's the chairman of our foundation here.

62:38

[01 03:39.015 – 01:03:41.155] So coming from Ryan, thank you.

62:40

[01 03:41.155 – 01:03:51.175] And, and Ryan, uh, with all sincerity, um, when I get to do things like this, I'm the one

62:48

[01 03:51.175 – 01:03:52.115] who's blessed.

62:49

[01 03:52.115 – 01:04:00.435] And I thank you for your work on the board, and, and Gail and her service, because this has enriched my life.

62:58

[01 04:00.435 – 01:04:06.155] This is, you know, I'm gonna go home tomorrow and I'm gonna see my grandkids, okay?

63:04

[01 04:06.155 – 01:04:08.255] And there's nothing makes me happier.

63:06

[01 04:08.255 – 01:04:16.415] But I have to tell you that I wouldn't have grandkids if it wasn't for this, and I am so extremely grateful.

63:15

[01 04:16.415 – 01:04:18.655] So thank you, sir.

63:17

[01 04:18.655 – 01:04:19.475] Thank you, guys.

63:18

[01 04:19.475 – 01:04:21.935] And thanks everybody for being here.

63:21

[01 04:21.935 – 01:04:22.875] Mm-hmm.

63:22

[01 04:22.875 – 01:04:26.055] Thank you.

63:23

[01 04:26.055 – 01:04:27.235] We got time for one more?

63:25

[01 04:27.235 – 01:04:28.815] Yeah, one more, Tim.

63:27

[01 04:28.815 – 01:04:29.175] All right.

63:28

[01 04:29.175 – 01:04:29.655] Well, bye.

63:30

[01 04:29.655 – 01:04:31.135] Mary, you can unmute.

63:31

[01 04:31.135 – 01:04:33.255] Last question.

63:33

[01 04:33.255 – 01:04:33.665] Hey.

63:33

[01 04:33.665 – 01:04:34.675] Great presentation.

63:34

[01 04:34.675 – 01:04:38.175] Hey, I was just a little bit surprised, Gail, to see the, Dr.

63:40

[01 04:38.175 – 01:04:39.995] Bob's crib there.

63:41

[01 04:39.995 – 01:04:40.525] Uh-huh.

63:42

[01 04:40.525 – 01:04:42.535] Because years ago when I was in St.

63:45

[01 04:42.535 – 01:04:49.015] Johnsbury at the recovery center, they were, they had just gotten a grant and they were redoing Dr.

63:52

[01 04:49.015 – 01:04:50.275] Bob's bedroom.

63:53

[01 04:50.275 – 01:04:51.405] Uh-huh.

63:54

[01 04:51.405 – 01:04:53.465] And, uh, did that go through?

63:57

[01 04:53.465 – 01:04:54.645] Did they finish that up?

63:59

[01 04:54.645 – 01:04:57.975] I'm, I mean, I was just kind of surprised that you had the crib and they didn't.

64:06

[01 04:57.975 – 01:05:02.054] Well, let me tell you the story real quickly about the crib.

64:10

[01 05:02.054 – 01:05:09.535] Um, when Betty was, uh, Smitty's first wife, and then he later remarried.

64:16

[01 05:09.535 – 01:05:15.175] Uh, after Betty died, he married Mona, and Mona and her daughter were helping Smitty move, uh, to Memphis.

64:23

[01 05:15.175 – 01:05:22.055] And they were back in the shed, and there was a bunch of spindles on the fl- uh, floor of the shed.

64:32

[01 05:22.055 – 01:05:30.435] And she asked, "Well, what is this?" And he says, "Oh, that's, um, my father's baby crib." And so they put it back together again.

64:41

[01 05:30.435 – 01:05:35.755] Uh, so it ended up, uh, coming back here through his second wife.

64:47

[01 05:35.755 – 01:05:38.355] And I don't know if, uh...

64:49

[01 05:38.355 – 01:05:40.135] Y- yeah, it would've been in the home in St.

64:53

[01 05:40.135 – 01:05:42.195] Johnsbury at one point, I'm sure.

64:56

[01 05:42.195 – 01:05:44.215] And I don't know what they're doing with the home.

65:00

[01 05:44.215 – 01:05:50.575] I don't really have any contact with them, but it'd be great if they, I think if they would redo that home, that would be exciting.

65:10

[01 05:50.575 – 01:05:52.595] Yeah, they were just- But, um- They were just doing the bedroom.

65:15

[01 05:52.595 – 01:05:57.375] In fact, the, I was there, and when I got, the, Gail that was doing it took me out, up there.

65:23

[01 05:57.375 – 01:06:02.815] They had just f- they had just found the, the wallpaper on his room.

65:29

[01 06:02.815 – 01:06:04.835] I mean, it had many, many, many layers of wallpaper.

65:33

[01 06:04.835 – 01:06:05.215] Yes.

65:34

[01 06:05.215 – 01:06:05.424] Yes.

65:34

[01 06:05.424 – 01:06:06.674] A little cowboy kind of stuff.

65:37

[01 06:06.674 – 01:06:06.685] Yeah.

65:38

[01 06:06.685 – 01:06:11.665] And they took, and they took it down, and they took it down and they had found the cowboy, you know, the rocking horse- Yeah.

65:47

[01 06:11.665 – 01:06:12.715] Yeah ...

65:48

[01 06:12.715 – 01:06:13.265] um, wallpaper.

65:49

[01 06:13.265 – 01:06:19.335] And so they were gonna, they were gonna, they thought they were gonna be able to get that, um, dup- duplicated and put back on.

65:59

[01 06:19.335 – 01:06:19.965] So- Right ...

66:00

[01 06:19.965 – 01:06:20.815] I was just curious.

66:02

[01 06:20.815 – 01:06:21.105] Thank you.

66:03

[01 06:21.105 – 01:06:22.955] But the crib came down through the family.

66:06

[01 06:22.955 – 01:06:26.735] Smitty used it with his kids, so it's kind of come down through the family.

66:12

[01 06:26.735 – 01:06:27.195] Thank you.

66:13

[01 06:27.195 – 01:06:28.375] Mm-hmm.

66:14

[01 06:28.375 – 01:06:28.995] Thank you.

66:15

[01 06:28.995 – 01:06:35.655] Well, Tim, I think we've come to the, to the end of our evening here.

66:21

[01 06:35.655 – 01:06:45.795] I want to thank everybody for joining us, and ask you to please, uh, let your friends know at your home group to come back next week and hear Gary End

66:33

[01 06:45.795 – 01:06:47.955] talk about Charles Towns.

66:35

[01 06:47.955 – 01:06:51.195] Charles Towns' role with Bill W.

66:38

[01 06:51.195 – 01:06:59.175] uh, is phenomenal, and we can't wait to hear Gary because we know he's gonna give us some interesting and new information.

66:46

[01 06:59.175 – 01:07:00.695] So that's it.

66:48

[01 07:00.695 – 01:07:01.755] Thank you.

66:49

[01 07:01.755 – 01:07:03.175] Bye, everybody.

66:50

[01 07:03.175 – 01:07:04.495] Oh, he's gonna...

66:51

[01 07:04.495 – 01:07:04.935] Oh.

66:52

[01 07:04.935 – 01:07:06.735] That was a great part two.

66:55

[01 07:06.735 – 01:07:08.535] He unmutes everybody, though.

66:57

[01 07:08.535 – 01:07:09.125] Oh, does it?

66:58

[01 07:09.125 – 01:07:09.685] It makes sense

The following is an AI-generated transcript. Minor errors may occur. The audio is the authoritative source.

855 Ardmore presented by Mike F – 2025-08-12

855 Ardmore presented by Mike F – 2025-08-12

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