Ebby T. is the person who carried his alcoholic solution to Bill W.

Clarence S., Cleveland AA founder, is quoted: “Bill might have scored

the touchdown, but it was Ebby who handed him the ball.”

Ebby grew up under ideal circumstances; his brother was mayor of

Albany, NY, as was his uncle and grandfather in previous years. There

is even a park named after his family name in his home town of

Albany NY – “John Boyd Thacher State Park”. In 1932, his older

brother, Mayor Jack Thacher, was a candidate NY State Governor

when FDR became US President. But Ebby found himself repeatedly

caught up in drinking scrapes which is not good news for such a

political family; thus came the suggestion that he leave Albany and

take residence in their family summer home in the prestigious

township of Manchester, VT.

Ebby’s family doubtless hoped that the relative tranquility of the

Manchester resort community would bring about at least some

moderation of his drinking sprees, and it did – sort of. After a few

months, Ebby joined a group who spent the entire winter clearing the

trails of the Green Mountains. He claimed to have drunk two pints of

gin on the first day, but there was no more to be had for the next six

months of pseudo isolation. He spent the winter of 1932 – 33 enjoying

the rugged work and doing lots of hunting on the weekends. Upon

return to Manchester he continued to stay dry for a few more months;

but soon thereafter his drinking bouts resumed. Ebby moved into one

of the furnished rooms of the large family residence on Taconic

Avenue in Manchester during the spring of 1934.

Ebby’s sprees brought about two

slight brushes with the Manchester

authorities; he was fined only five

dollars on each occasion, but with

the warning that the third time they would go hard on him. Perhaps it

was remorse that led Ebby to follow his brother’s urging to paint the

huge family summer ‘cottage’ that summer. Not surprisingly that task

was too much for one person,  so a professional helper was hired for

added assistance and the job was finished that summer. He must have

felt a great satisfaction, for who wouldn’t be proud of such a large

scale accomplishment!  Perhaps Ebby was celebrating with a little

hooch when he noticed a flock of ungrateful pigeons on the newly

painted roof. Out came his shotgun — and doubtless the neighbors, as

well — as loud blasts shattered the tranquility of this calm, peaceful and

very elegant community (Robert Todd Lincoln, the President’s son,

once lived across the street).

Ebby faced six months in Windsor Prison or Brattleboro Insane Asylum,

but lucky for us, the judge let him off the hook. Under the custody of

millionaire Rowland H. (P. 26), Ebby eventually landed in Calvary Mission

in lower Manhattan. Being sober several months, he gleefully carried his

sober message to Bill W. on a bleak November day of 1934 — and you

know the rest of the story.

But don’t forget the pigeons!