About
24th Street, Inc. is a Georgia not-for-profit corporation
Our History
24th Street became a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation in the State of Georgia on April 25, 2018.
The name, 24th Street, was chosen to honor the first A.A. clubhouse, which was located at 334 1/2 West 24th Street in Manhattan.
Lois Wilson wrote in her diary about the first clubhouse on June 11, 1940 saying, “It used to be a stable, so is set back from the street and entered through a covered passage with a doorway on the street. It used to be the Illustrators Club, so is very attractive. One large room, with fireplace and paneled in knotty pine, and kitchen downstairs. Upstairs there is a large room with skylights and two small bedrooms and two toilets. The rent is $75 a month and with gas and light and extras will probably come to $100.” (from “Pass It On”, pp. 238-239)
The 24th Street Clubhouse in Manhattan became Bill and Lois’ first steady home in years on November 4, 1940. They remained there for the next five months before moving to what is now known as Stepping Stones. A.A. meetings were held regularly downstairs for years.
Our Board decided that 24th Street was the perfect name for our Clubhouse in Athens, GA, since our goal is to provide a stable, safe environment for Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon members and groups.
A Lease Agreement was signed on May 22, 2018 for a portion of the building at 150 Collins Industrial Boulevard in Athens, GA and the Club opened September 1, 2018.
“God has painted a masterpiece at 24th Street. The club offers a unique opportunity for newcomers and old-timers alike to experience A.A.’s 3 legacies of unity, service, and recovery.” -TB
Clubhouses in Athens, GA
Clubhouses have long been a part of the recovery community in Athens. The Biscayne Room was home for Athens’ oldest A.A. group, Athens Biscayne Group. Later the Cobb House became home for many of our long-standing A.A. groups, such as Noon Cobb, The Cobb Group, Easy Does It, and an Al-Anon group as well. In 2007, the Cobb House was sold and the groups that met there were forced to disperse around the Athens Area. In 2017, the property where the Biscayne Room was located was also sold, thus causing the Athens Biscayne Group to find a series of new homes. In early 2018, a group of A.A. members, led by Bill T., formed a committee to investigate opening another clubhouse in Athens. Al-Anon was asked to join the committee and the discussions began. Within six months, a Georgia nonprofit corporation, 24th Street, Inc., was formed and a site selected for the new clubhouse.
In January of 2022 the membership of the clubhouse decided to expand the use of the clubhouse from A.A and Al-Anon to all 12 step recovery programs. The mission of the corporation was changed to reflect this new direction and almost immediately groups from other 12 step recovery programs such as Narcotics Anonymous and Overeaters Anonymous found a new home.
In simplest terms, 24th Street provides to 12 step recovery programs what the Groups cannot provide for themselves. Most groups meet in churches, hospitals, treatment centers, or similar places. Under long standing Traditions, A.A. and Al-Anon groups never own buildings or meeting halls. This allows them to avoid the problems and controversies that too often arise from property ownership. Clubhouses, like 24th Street, Inc., are formed because many 12 step members want to have their “own place” to meet and to enjoy between-meeting fellowship. An A.A. or Al-Anon group cannot itself provide such facilities, but a separate club can.
Groups are not “affiliated” with the operations of the clubhouse. Similarly as they would to a church, community center or other entity the groups pay rent for the use of the facility. The rent to 24th Street, Inc. covers a portion of the cost of Club operations. In one sense, 24th Street is the “landlord” and the groups the “tenants”, although their relationship goes well beyond that. The Club focuses on material needs, freeing the groups to concentrate on their primary purpose: recovery from alcoholism (or in the case of Al-Anon, the effects of alcoholism).