January 5 in A.A. History

Tom Uzzell

In 1939, Hank P. wrote to Bill W. after receiving a letter in which Tom Uzzell [left], editor of the book manuscript, wrote 

I spent last evening with the manuscript... on reading additional chapters... I found myself deeply moved, at times full of amazement, almost incredulity, and during most of the reading I was extremely sympathetic. My feeling at the moment is that you should certainly hold on to the production and distribution of this volume... I don't know what else you could want for a good book. I believe in it most em­phatically... The whole book needs the final shaping of a professional hand... I understand better now the enthusiasm your with me about this work. I thought you were exaggerating somewhat but now I have joined the choir invisible.

Shortly thereafter, Uzzell began editing the material that Hank and Bill had sent him, resulting in a pre-publication manuscript that in a few months would become the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous.

In 1940, Clarence S. wrote to Bill W.,

Have attended two of Doc S.’s meetings since he has been holding them in his home, and they have been very well attended and very inspirational.
    Doc led our meeting, and never have I heard him in such fine fettle. Noticed a vast improvement since he pulled his gang out of the Williamses’. Now speaks with authority and no pussyfooting, and I believe he looks ten years younger.

    In 1977, John R. recalled,

I’m not sure, but I think we had two meetings there. You should have seen Doc’s house! His little living room wasn’t much bigger that this little house we live in. We were crowded up pretty good there

In 1941, Bill and Lois W. were spending the weekend at the home of A.A. members Ruth and Wilbur S. in Chattaqua, New York. The day before the S▒▒▒s had shown the W▒▒▒s an empty house in Bedford Hills owned by the widow Mrs. Helen Griffith (no relation to Bill). She wanted to meet the couple, so they returned to the house to see her. Helen made them an offer: to sell the house to them for $6,500 [~$140,000 in 2025], significantly less than her original asking price, with no down-payment and a $40 [~$860 in 2025] a month mortgage payment with no interest for at least one year. After Bill made some quick mental calculations, he and Lois accepted Helen’s offer. [Lois Remembers says this happened in early March.]