Stepping Stones Home in Bedford Hills Receives Historic Designation

The Stepping Stones house in Bedford Hills was recently designated as historic by the United States Department of the Interior, an initiative celebrated Saturday with the unveiling of the official plaque.

Stepping Stones was the home of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) co-founder Bill Wilson and Al-Anon Family Groups co-founder Lois Wilson. The designation is a high honor; approximately 2,500 historic sites nationwide have received the designation because of their significance and the standards of preservation that they maintain. Through the support of volunteers and donors the Stepping Stones Foundation preserves the home and its contents (15,000 items), Bill W.’s writing studio, 100,000 manuscripts, and 8.5 acres of gardens and woodland areas.

Government officials and special guests gathered on the day of the 64th Annual Lois’ Family Groups Picnic at Stepping Stones and ceremony presenters included: State Sen. George Latimer; Mindi Rambo, National Parks Service; Margaret Griffith Strong Dettman, Bill Wilson’s great niece; Assemblyman David Buchwald; Town of Bedford Supervisor Chris Burdick; Stepping Stones PasT President Jim Moogan; Stepping Stones Executive Director Sally Corbett. Also in attendance were Town of Bedford Board Members Mary Beth Kass, Frances Corcoran, and Don Scott. Community volunteers were among those who helped make the event a success and included students from local high schools, Bedford Armonk Rotary Club members and volunteers with the Run for Recovery.

Stepping Stones offers tours by reservation Mon. through Sat. at 1 p.m. and off-site presentations about the lives of the Wilsons. To support Stepping Stones as a volunteer or donor, the public may contact the non-profit, tax-exempt organization at 914-232-4822 or info@steppingstones.org. The organizations website is www.steppingstones.org and can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/BillWHome and on Twitter at @BillWHome.

Photo: From left, Front row: Mindi Rambo, National Parks Service; Margaret Griffith Strong Dettman, Bill Wilson’s great niece; Bedford Town Board Member Mary Beth Kass, Chris Burdick (Supervisor), Frances Corcoran; Stepping Stones Executive Director Sally Corbett. Back row: NY Senator George Latimer; Stepping Stones Board President John Koster; Assemblyman David Buchwald; Bedford Town Board Member Don Scott. Photo credit: Contributed