The History of Rule 62

Before it was officially established in 1995, Rule 62 began as a small, informal hangout for a recovery community. The group's first home was part of the ground floor of an old house on S. Allen Street, where the Borough Building stands today. A member of the community, known as Shoe Shop Dave, ran his shoe repair business in the other half of the space and generously allowed the group to use his side for meetings.

 

This early space was affectionately nicknamed "the clubhouse."

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Sadly, the house was sold and demolished after about four years. But the community's resourceful spirit prevailed. Another member, Dave the Plumber, offered the group the upper loft of a garage he used in Coal Alley. The garage's owner insisted on a formal lease, which prompted the group to officially form a corporation to be the Lessee. The corporation's name, Rule 62 Clubhouse, comes from a story in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, by Alcoholics Anonymous. They occupied this space for three or four years until the owner, impressed by the group’s improvements, wanted it back.

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Rule 62 found its next temporary home in a house on West College, just past the Waffle Shop. It wasn't the nicest space, but it served the group for several years until they moved into the basement of the Glennland Building. This became their longest-running location, hosting meetings until 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to close.

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After the pandemic, the group couldn't re-open until 2023 when they found a new, temporary space on Sowers Street. The owners offered a favorable rent because the building was slated for demolition, but everyone knew it wasn't a permanent solution. During this time, the group applied for a grant through Behavioral Health Alliance for Rural Pennsylvania (BHARP) and began searching for a permanent location to purchase.

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When the Sowers Street lease ended in 2024, the group still hadn't secured a permanent home. The owner of a building on Science Park Road generously came to the rescue, offering a free temporary space while Rule 62 searched for a suitable property to purchase. This lasted until they were able to secure the building at 220 Regent Court. After completing renovations, Rule 62 moved into its current location in 2025. Along with the move, the organization was officially renamed Rule 62 Recovery and Wellness and began hosting weekly meetings for AA, NA, SAA, and MA.

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