H.R. Mike Eshleman’s Open Talk

Henry R. (Mike) Eshleman came up the hard way. A newlywed, looking for a job as an auto mechanic, he followed friends to Detroit in 1920 and stayed.

He found a job with an auto company, but wanted a business of his own. He got that too–eventually he started manufacturing auto parts in a small plant he bought in South Haven. That made him president of Springfield Machine and Stamping Co. He would continue buying more plants not only within state, but also out of state. He created a new company called Pullman Industries and all the newly acquired companies were put under the umbrella of the corporation becoming the chair of the board.

Early on in his business career he began to have trouble with alcohol, becoming an alcoholic. He became an early member of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous becoming the second oldest member.

This is his story that he gave which hasn’t changed very much over the years. However, he hoped before he was done he was able to leave or impart to some man that was inflicted with this same disease as himself – some ray of hope, some message, some word or some thought, that he too may enjoy the happiness, peace and contentment that’s been my lot to enjoy as a member of this wonderful organization of ours.

Ladies and gentlemen, in the words of that great Galilean who lived almost two thousand years ago and whose birth we are commemorating this Christmas Day, “when you are well, you need not a physician. I come here to heal the sick…” And of the channels at his command, He chose as His instruments one alcoholic helping another. And tonight’s speaker, ladies and gentlemen is one of those instruments that has carried the message of AA to all the alcoholics in Michigan. So it’s your privilege and both my pleasure to turn this meeting over to Archie T., our founder.

See Archie Trowbridge story.

June 1, 1945 Detroit Celebrates 10 Years of AA

It was decided by local (Detroit) members of AA that they would put together a celebration to mark the 10th Anniversary of Alcoholics Anonymous in existence, something they never dreamt of in 1935.

There was a big celebration being put together in Cleveland, but every area big or small would put on its own celebration to mark this milestone. Detroit was to have theirs on June 1, 1945 and it would be held at the East Group location, St Columbia Episcopal Church.

There were approximately 315 people in attendance. Some of the attendees were Archie T. (founder of AA in Detroit), H. R. “Mike” E. (Area 33’s first Delegate), Jim H. (who worked for Mike and founded the Tuesday Morning Group and the South Macomb Group), Dr. Dean M., who was the speaker for the event, Roy M., who was Archie’s first twelfth step and who in turn twelfth stepped Mike E. Wilf W., an early member from Windsor was in attendance also.

The photo taken for this event was done by Jim H. Pictured in the photo to the left is Roy M., Mike’s brother-in-law, which was the man that was Archie’s first twelfth step call. In the center is Archie T. and on the right is Mike E. These men were the first three men to get sober in Detroit. Sad to say, Roy M. was to relapse and die of alcoholism in 1948.

SARAH KLEIN-“ANGEL OF A.A.”

There are many myths and urban legends about a non-alcoholic “member” of Alcoholics Anonymous in the metro-Detroit area. We hope this clears up many views.

Sarah Klein, a non-alcoholic, had received one of the earliest copies of the “Big Book” which contained the story of Alcoholics Anonymous in April, 1939. It held the instructions for a program of recovery from alcoholism. She was so impressed by what she read that she wrote to the Alcoholic Foundation in New York City. In her letter, she inquired how they intended to put into practice that which they had wrote in the book. The Foundation had sent her a reply that they had a member in Akron that would be returning to Detroit about mid-summer. The Foundation also sent a letter to Archie Trowbridge recovering at Dr. Bob’s home and informed him that they had received a letter of request from someone in Detroit. Of course he assumed that S. Klein was not only an alcoholic, but also a man. Archie came home July 10, 1939 and immediately contacted S. Klein.