History of the 562 Group

History

Forward

This book is the first compiled history of AA group begun at 319 Lancaster Ave, Ardmore. It has had many contributors, and much input from the few remaining early members, to most recent ones.

This is a living document and will be added to, and updated, from time to time, as more information becomes available. Illustrations and photographs, and historical documents will also be included, as they also surface. The archivists wish to thank all for their input. This history is dedicated to the thousands of drunks who passed through these battered, smoke-filled rooms, to recovery in AA.

Early History and Beginnings of 319 Happy Hour

In the early local history of Alcoholics Anonymous organizations, meeting areas fell into two major areas; clubhouses (rare) and the Meetings themselves. 319 was unusual from the start, as it was primarily a clubhouse, and only sponsored one 30-minute meeting a week Tuesday night, 8:30pm. The rest of the space and time was given over to the function of a clubhouse where alcoholics could detox and find haven to help each other. One of the early 319 Detox formulas was orange juice and honey (as opposed to the famous Dr. Bob remedy of pickle or sauerkraut juice)! Naturally, little or no medical assistance, and certainly no medical insurance, was available to recovering alcoholics.

Often 12-step service was rendered by recovering alcoholics taking other freshly recover-eds into their homes until detoxed, or work might be found for them.

The initial opening date for 319 has been given as either 1950 or 1952. We have even heard estimates as early as 1947, but the general consensus seems to be 1952 as the beginning of this group, now known as the 562 Happy Hour. So, our history begins here:

 319 Lancaster was begun in a rented 2 story space located over the Swartz Camera/Photographic Supply. Swartz was our landlord and rent collector until the demolition of the entire building in 1997. As seems to be the case involving many AA meetings, there was the usual corner bar, Annie's, downstairs. Who knows how many recruits we got from there? The founder of the group was Jim Campbell (He's deceased, so there is no anonymity problem). The club was opened at 6:00 AM until 9:00 PM, Sunday afternoon at 2:30. The place was first known as the 319 Mainline Center, and later changed to the 319 Happy Hour. We were at first financially supported by the Bryn Mawr Hospital and a few other local meetings; our starting rent was $75.00 a month. At the end of 319's lifespan, we were paying $575.00 per. So much for inflation!

 One early policy we had concerned phone-answering. Due to Anonymity and work considerations, one only said "Hello", When the phone rang, nothing identifying us as AA was mentioned. At that time, and continuing to this day, we had The only AA phone incoming and outgoing in the area that was operational.

 There were no rehabs, institutions, or detoxes at that time. Any alcoholics not responding to our simple home remedies and application of the Big Book and the Steps, usually ended up in Norristown, Haverford State, Byberry, or other local mental institutions, or incarcerated. Or dead.

 319 from the 1950' to the 1970's

Sometime in the early 1970's, a lawyer named Jim G. got our first charter for the Main Line Center through Harrisburg, and a non-profit exemption from the IRS. which we have to this day. Doors were always open to all, with one exception for NO meetings on Thurs. Night because of Holy Redeemer meetings. This group has never specialized in admitting or excluding any groups or individuals. We contributed to local Bob's Little Restaurant and the local Toddle House with money for breakfast & other meals, for newcomers who were broke. Charity for fellow alcoholics was always forthcoming at 319.

 1970's through 1990's

Frequency and type of meetings have increased and varied through this period. The most active periods included meetings 3 times a day on weekdays and twice on Saturdays and Sundays. There were Big Book meetings, Step Meetings, Topic Meetings, Speaker Meetings, Women's and Men's Meetings, Beginner's & Candlelight Meetings.

 The End of 319 and The Beginning of 562

In the early spring of 1998, we got the word from our landlord that the building was to be sold and demolished to make room for a Pier One outlet. Fierce denial took place, and then, rapid frantic planning to find a new meeting place with as many positive characteristics as the old, including compatible location with parking and public transportation access.

Fortunately, our trustees had maintained and increased our "prudent reserve" to the point where we had funds sufficient to purchase an adequate building less than a mile to the west on the same Lancaster Ave, and to pay off part of the new mortgage, at which point, we still need to pay off the building. Our new building, a relatively new, 2-story, former real estate office, is, naturally, again right adjacent to a bar! We are now called the"562 Happy Hour Group” and are host to 13 meetings a week, which we plan to expand to 3 per day. We can seat up to 60 a meeting, and plan to grow.

There has been a steady increase of membership since we opened in September 1998, to an often standing-room only house. We have parking access and public transportation, handicapped-access restrooms and soda machine. Our upstairs floor is utilized for club functions, and our fundraising-and-social affairs, such as dances and our annual ALCOTHON, a 24-hr Christmas Holiday meeting and AA social time.

The 562 Center has kept its antique wooden phone booths, with modern incoming and outgoing lines to take care of communications concerning alcoholics and alcoholic/Ala-non problems in the Delaware Valley District 31, one of the few facilities to do so continuously over the years. We maintain current ties with District 31 and Intergroup, and offer our rooms for any alcoholic groups who wish to start a meeting. We hope that over the years, we will continue to grow and flourish to meet the needs and demands of alcoholics in our Mainline Delaware Valley area.