NH AA history highlights
(David P.)
New Hampshire A.A. Chronology
JUNE 1946
In the 1962 Delegate report Glen E. S. said that in Portsmouth
(1946) there were some closed private AA meetings in Lawyer
Arthur M.'s office. Then a man by by the name of Arthur D.
came from Boston. Arthur came from a family of musicians that
like to hassle the Italians whenever they could and there was
old J.B., a well-known businessman in Portsmouth. They had AA
meetings in Banker Bill W.'s House on Middle Street. Later the
meetings moved to the Portsmouth Community Center.
AUGUST 1946
Our first organized A.A. Group was in Manchester in Aug 1946.
A woman by the name of Mary W. who got sober in New Rochelle NY
went to the City Hall in Manchester & spoke with Judge Chretien
& Monsignor James McGreal about starting an AA meeting, they
liked the idea and gave her a meeting place in the City Hall
building. This meeting eventually disbanded and in Aug 1947
The Brookside Original AA Group was founded.
[...]
1955 - 1958
The 1955 AA Group Handbook lists 20 New Hampshire AA Groups.
It also lists the "Malano Club" in Manchester which hosted many
AA meetings. This Malano Club helped protect people's anonymity
by lighting the room with one 5-watt bulb.
[...]
1968
The earliest meeting list booklet we have is dated Sep 1968.
Earlier issues, single mimeographed sheets were issued but do
not seem to have survived.
[...]
1976 - 1977
Maryjane L. was Delegate and we were now Area 43. About this
time Jack K. from California introduced the practice of holding
hands while repeating the Lord's Prayer, and of responding to
(My name is ----) with cries of "Hi - - - "
[...]
2000 - 2001
In the year 2000 people of the N.H. AA groups were squawking
that the Service Office did not sell Chips, Medallions and
Bumper Stickers. The sale of such non-AA items was put to a
vote and after much controversy the majority won. The NHAA
Service began selling chips, medallions and bumper stickers
in January 2001.
[...]
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