Before the Internet reined supreme, computer users connected with one another using something called a BBS - or Bulletin Board System. Similar to the concept used in today's discussion forums, BBS's (in the beginning) had only a single phone line and modem that meant only one user could connect at a time. These systems were usually the personal computers of their Sysop's (short for SYStem OPerators), and most gave of themselves, their time and their equipment so that others could connect. You had to sign up and register for each BBS system separately and it was not uncommon for you to be a member of a dozen or more systems at the same time. If you called one board and it was busy, you just moved onto the next until you were able to get online.

We currently have the original hardware and software used by Brantford, ON's Color '84 which was the first and longest running BBS in Brantford (1984 to 1997). Started by high school teacher Dave Russ, Color '84 was an initial connecting point for many people in this area that are still friends today. You will be able to connect to this original hardware soon, and in the meantime, check out this newsletter taken from the board archives and dated May 25th, 1986. Most of these stories have some sort of inside joke which has long since been forgotten, but it's always interesting to look back at these newsletters created on dot matrix printers.