Saving McPike's Farm

An effort is underway to preserve McPike's Farm, in Upstate New York, an early landmark in the history of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Located in the Town of Galway, Ballston Spa, NY 30 miles north of Albany, McPike's Farm is a part of Alcoholics Anonymous history. Joanna W. a resident of the area is trying to put together an effort to perserve the historical landmark.

The following is a letter from Joanna:

We live in upstate NY and we have recently come across McPike’s Farm in Balston Spa, NY.

We have learned that McPike's Farm was the second of two early rehabs of AA, the first being High Watch Farms in Kent, Connecticut. McPike's Farm is where Ebby T. spent the last 2 years of his life. In his writings, Bill Wilson often refers to “the Farm” and we had always thought he was refering to High Watch, but now it is clear that he was refering to McPike’s Farm.

We went to visit McPike's Farm on December 13, 1998 and found it in alarming disrepair. We found many early books and vinyl records and reel-to-reel tapes of AA history, and photos of Bill W and Ebby T. The author, Mel B., has recently written a book called "Ebby T., The Sponser of Bill W." (Hazelden) which describes the farm, and the work of Margaret & Mickey McPike.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Donahue, the owner’s of McPike’s Farm, Maggie being the daughter of Margaret McPike, are getting on in years and cannot possibly keep up with running the farm properly. Although the alcoholism treatment wing of Utica Hospital (Utica, NY) was named for Margaret McPike, the actual Farm which served as one of the first rehab centers for alcoholics, and which treated over 4,000 alcoholics, has received no assistance or notice.

We are interested in forming a foundation to restore the farm as a piece of AA history, just like the Wilson House, Dr. Bob’s House, and High Watch Farms.

Sincerely,

Joanna W.
PO Box 332
Bearsville, NY 12409
914-679-3877