History

Founded in 1974 with a rented house, a $1,000 donation, and the courage to make change, Dr. Susan B. Anthony, great niece of the famous advocate for women’s rights, saw the need for a safe haven for women alcoholics to begin recovery in a protected and loving environment.

Dr. Anthony and Phyllis Michelfelder gathered a group of women who themselves were recovering alcoholics. Each had a desire to give back what they had been given: sobriety. Together, they made the dream of Wayside House a reality, and the first client was admitted in March of 1975. These women knew the power and success of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, and this became the foundation of Wayside House, then and now.

The original cottage remains at the heart of the house. From that earnest beginning, Wayside House has evolved into a 23 bed professional residential and outpatient treatment center. Staff includes professionally trained therapists, a consulting psychiatrist and medical director, on-site nurse, and many support service staff.