It is still 1940, and the Alcoholics Anonymous organization has become more established. They soon open their own clubhouse for the group, which now includes three women. The first clubhouse was located at 2036 Sansom Street. At the time, rent was only $60 per month. In order to finance this new venture, they assigned 
two members (who had been dry for two weeks) to make a weekly pledge. This was only the second clubhouse in the country, the first being in New York City. The Philadelphia Clubhouse was, however, the first that was “complete”, including a lunch counter keeping its doors open 8am to 1am daily.
In May of 1941, the growing group left for a larger location: 1537 Pine Street. The Saturday Evening Post article had brought hoards of new people, and membership was up to 125.
Two years passed, as members came and went, and the now well-established group was ready to make another move. On July 15th, 1943, the Philadelphia Alcoholics Anonymous took over the Alpha Chi Rho house at the University of Pennsylvania.
Work with both members in and outside of hospitals continued, and in April of 1945 Jim B and Bob Mooman took over four beds in the Episcopal Hospital for what was then called the “de-fogging” (now detoxing) of prospective Alcoholics Anonymous members. In order to take care of other, less financially stable members, a fund was set up to pay dues for those who could not afford to.
On January 26th, the group made the official move to incorporate, and become Alcoholics Anonymous, an official non-profit. The group decided each would serve for one year, and they would also choose one representative from each neighborhood to serve for six months. The first Board of Directors was composed of the following:
Bill J. | President
Jack H. | Vice President
Pat R. | Treasurer
Johnny MacD. | Secretary
Alcoholics Anonymous of Philadelphia has grown and flourished since the establishment in the 1940’s, and it is undeniable that it has changed lives every year, every month, every single day for the past 75 years. We now celebrate this 75th Anniversary not only to honor the founding members and the founding organization, but the people who have sought help here, the people whose lives it has changed, and the people whose lives it will continue to change for the next 75 years and beyond.