Historic AA Locations in Cleveland

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historical aa locations

John D. Rockefeller Grave Site

"This thing should be self sustaining. Money, will spoil it."

John Davison Rockefeller (July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937) was an American business magnate and philanthropist.

In 1940, Rockefeller's son, John "Junior" hosted Bill Wilson, one of the original founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, and others at a dinner to tell their stories.

"News of this got out on the world wires; inquiries poured in again and many people went to the bookstores to get the book, Alcoholics Anonymous."

John Junior offered to pay for the publication of the book, but in keeping with AA traditions of being self-supporting, AA rejected the money.

While Junior is buried in North Tarrytown New York, senior's resting place is located in Lake View Cemetery. Founded in 1869 by pioneering leaders of Cleveland, Lake View Cemetery is one of the largest and most beautiful garden cemeteries in the United States.

Lake View Cemetery
12316 Euclid Ave
Cleveland, OH 44106

From the main entrance, turn left following the signs toward Wake Chapel. While traveling down a small hill you'll see a stone stairway on the right leading to a tall obelisk - STOP. That's the John D. Rockefeller grave site. Section 10, Lot 49, Grave 38920

Without his family's and associate's help, AA would almost certainly have died in its infancy.

Borton Group

Since 1939, Cleveland's Oldest Extant AA Group
The meeting is held at Forest Hill Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Established on November 16, 1939, Clarence S. claimed this is the first group to call itself an AA group rather than a sect of the Oxford Group. Others disagree.

If you feel like a hike, walk west along the large meadow to the edge of the hill. This is where the rockefeller-summer-home-forest-hillRockefeller Summer HomeRockefeller Summer Home sat until a fire in 1917 destroyed it.

Forest Hill Church
3031 Monticello Blvd
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

Clarence S. Home

Clarence started the first AA group in Cleveland in 1939
Drive by the once home of Clarence S. Today, it continues to be a private residence.

Clarence started the first AA group in Cleveland in 1939, in part because some Roman Catholic priests in Cleveland were refusing to let Catholics attend the Oxford Group meeting in Akron. This was the first group to use the name Alcoholics Anonymous.

1552 Biltmore Rd
Lyndhurst, OH 44124

Albert "Abby" G. Home

Home of the first AA Group in Cleveland
Drive by the once home of Abby G. Today, it continues to be a private residence.

First AA meeting in Cleveland met in his home May 18, 1939. Also, the first chairman of the Central Committee Cleveland October 1939. He helped set the AA principle of rotation and his story He Thought He Could Drink Like a Gentleman is in the 2nd & 3rd editions of the Big Book.

2345 Stillman Rd
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

Guided Tour

Download and print the Tour of Cleveland AA Sites. Includes map and step-by-step directions starting from the Cleveland District Office.
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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the AA Cleveland District Office.