Dr. Bob’s Home in Akron is a new national historic landmark.
The Dr. Robert and Anne Smith House was one of 27 sites officially designated on Wednesday by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The house at 855 Ardmore Ave. on Akron’s west side is associated with Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith (Dr. Bob) who, along with William Griffith Wilson (Bill W.), co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous, a global organization that assists 2.1 million alcoholics, on June 10, 1935.
Smith and his wife lived in the house from 1915 to 1949/1950.
It is one of two Summit County sites to earn such a designation: Akron’s Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, the Seiberling estate, is the other.
Harmon Velie, chairman of the board of Dr. Bob’s Home, was thrilled at the news.
“We are tickled pink,” he said. “It verifies the house and what happened here,” he said.
The designation as a national historic landmark, Velie said, recognizes “the contribution to society as a whole because from that house all of the 12-step programs were born. It is more than national significance, it is worldwide.”
The designation, Velie said, “is a pretty elite thing.” There are fewer than 90 designated sites in Ohio, he said.
He said there will be a recognition ceremony at a future date.
The news, he said, could provide access for the home of the Akron doctor to federal programs that would protect and preserve the building.
Work to receive the designation, Velie said, began in January 2010.
Also designated a national historic landmark was Stepping Stones, a house in Katonah, N.Y., once owned by Bill and Lois Wilson, the respective co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Al-Anon Family Groups.
During the 47 years the Wilsons lived here, A.A. grew exponentially, with Bill Wilson serving as the leader of the movement.
The two houses were among 26 national historic landmarks and one national natural landmark announced by U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
Such landmarks must be places that possess exceptional value and quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States.
Currently, there are 2,527 designated national historic landmarks and 592 national natural landmark sites.
“Each of these landmarks represents a thread in the great tapestry that tells the story of our beautiful land, our diverse culture and our nation’s rich heritage,” said Salazar in a statement.
One other designation has distant ties to Akron. The Black Jack Battlefield from June 2, 1856, in the Kansas Territory was triggered by abolitionist John Brown, who has strong ties to Summit and Portage counties. The three-hour battle began Brown’s war on slavery, which would culminate in his ill-fated raid on Harpers Ferry, Va., in 1859.
The National Historic Landmarks Program, established in 1935, is administered by the National Park Service. It works with preservation officials and other partners interested in nominating a landmark. Applications are reviewed by the National Park System Advisory Board, which makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior. If selected, property ownership remains intact but each site receives a designation letter, a plaque and technical preservation advice.
More information is online at http://www.drbobshome.com.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com. Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.