A history of the 228 Club as excerpted from a 1996 publication entitled, “A Brief History of Alcoholics Anonymous in Richmond, Indiana”. This book and many others can be found in our Archives room on site:

THE EIGHTIES

In the mid-eighties Dick A., Bob S. and John P. were invited to the home of Lou J. to discuss the feasibility of starting another club in town. Several members expressed a rather strong sentiment against the idea, but it was decided to hold a Fellowship meeting at the Holiday Inn to obtain a consensus of opinion. The decision was affirmative and with the assistance of a Catholic Priest, Father Van, a large building - with a moderate rent - was found. The one-time Convent was located at the 228 South 6th Street - thus, the 228 Club became a reality during the Christmas Season of 1980. What a Christmas present!

Most members of the Fellowship joined the club and worked very hard to make it a success. Furnishings and the necessary repair work were freely given. Earl C. Became manager; many outside groups moved their meetings to the club. This club, one of the nicest in Indiana - has been of great service to the community for over sixteen years.

The Men’s Chauvinist Pig Group became a novel Monday night meeting at the club. Joe L. claims that the group was just a coincidence - it just happened to be concurrent with the Women’s Group meeting there and the time, and space was available. This short lived discussion meeting was never actualized as a group. Regulars included Hollie D., Jon F., Earl C., Bob S., and Al H. This was in the early eighties.

There was a floating meeting which lasted for a year or so. About 1982, members would meet at their respective homes at Midnight. These every Wednesday sessions would often last till daybreak - no wonder we stayed sober! Some of these night owls were Cowboy Jim, Kathy B., Bob S., Rick M., and Denise B.

A regular after-the-meeting spot was the Waffle House on West National Road.

Many outlying meetings started during the late Seventies and the Eighties. Ron W. and Colonel restarted the Cambridge City Group in 1982 and Connersville has an additional group. Hagerstown, Liberty, Brookville, Winchester, and Eaton, Ohio joined ranks during this period. Last Spring (1996) more than three-hundred A.A. members and friends attended our 50th Anniversary Breakfast Meeting at the Holiday Inn. We have been greatly blessed since that small, but gala, affair at the Blue Note in 1947.

Richmond, and the surrounding area, offers a great variety of meetings every day of the week due to the sincere trudging of those New-timers of the Forties and Fifties. Most of them are gone, but they leave us with a heritage of what works. May the staunch and severe legacy of true-caring displayed by the Richmond Group in the Craighead Building era continue to guide us down our Road of Happy Destiny.