2
Early in 1985 the Highland Christian Church began
to have more church functions, and the Highland Group disbanded for a short
time. Meanwhile, at the Presbyterian Church, the Southside Group had been moved
to the church basement so the large room (now directly overhead) could be used
for clogging lessons. Holding a discussion meeting with about thirty people
clogging overhead became quite a lesson in patience and tolerance. After about
two weeks of clogging, John G. secured another basement in a new building at
the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Frankfort. This ragtag group met for about
two weeks in the unfinished basement with construction debris all around.
This group selected a committee to search for
a new meeting place. In a short period, a week or two, Charles A. located an
old restored mansion owned by Historic Frankfort. The “Glen Willis” Mansion
had four rooms downstairs, four rooms upstairs, a full length porch across the
back overlooking the Kentucky River, ample parking, and it was just sitting
there with no occupants.
In the spring of 1985, the group rented Glen
Willis and held its first meeting. The Highland Group and The Southside Group
came together, forming a new group which came to be known as the Willis Group.
The group had named itself The Riverside Group, but everyone continued
using the Willis Group. (Some members, with tongue in cheek, refer to this as
“the Country Club AA” era, because of the plush accommodations).
3
The new group had four scheduled meetings: The
Highland Beginners Group became the Willis Beginners Group at 6:30 on Tuesday
nights, before the open discussion at 8:00, as had been the practice at the
Highland Group. Friday night at 8:00 was an open discussion meeting from the
Southside Group. A new Saturday night speaker meeting began. All four were considered
meetings of The Willis Group. Other days and times were tried for meetings,
but interest would wane and the meetings died. This was difficult to understand
because there was plenty of room in the old mansion, and the rent was very low.
Our Higher Power had other things in mind. In 1987 Historic Frankfort announced
plans to sell the mansion. The group would have to move.
In the fall of 1987, Kizzie P. and Ross P. located
a room in an old renovated school owned by the Franklin County School Board.
The rent was one dollar a month, so the group moved in. All went fairly well
until the group was informed that smoking would not be allowed in the building.
Approximately one month from the time we moved in, we began searching for another
place.
Kizzie P. and Ross P. found a building on the
north end of Holmes Street. This was a basement room, but, being on a steep
hill, had a walk-out door at ground level. The group once again moved tables,
chairs, and the coffee pot. The group conscience decided we needed a new name
for the Willis or Riverside Group, seeing as we were no longer in the Willis
Mansion, or near the river.
