Origin of the Gazebo Gatherings and Early SB posts

[Gillman]

Intrigued by what I found when I searched "bunker" on the board, I did the same for "gazebo". The earliest reference I can find is, indirectly, in the form of a post from Jim Butler, in advance of the 2001 KBF, indicating interest in having a party for SB at a suitable place. People then starting discussing where it should be held and a number of post-KBF posts (by people no longer on the board) start to use the term gazebo to describe the gathering of SB members held behind the General Nelson that year. Sadly, the 2001 KBF took place right after 9/11 and Jim did not attend KBF that year. Still, there were reports, bittersweet in tone, of the goings on at that early gazebo. There are some humorous posts (some only in retrospect), e.g., someone mentions that they stayed up until 3:00 a.m. and not one neighbor complained. Before I joined the board I spent a fair amount of time reading the early posts and I still get a kick out of a lot them, e.g., there is one from somewhat earlier where Jim, encountering Fighting Cock, lets off a stream of adjectives to explain why he didn't like it! Another one suggests that Jim found a source nearby his home of 1960's 1810 Old Overholt. It is lots of fun or interesting to read the old posts, in some ways, little has changed, but in others, a lot has, mostly because of the growth of the board.

Gary

[barturtle]

Interesting, I was at the KBF in 2001, and stayed at the GN. I do remember hearing a few people back there when I got back from the Gala, but really didn't pay it much attention. I was wiped from the evening of dancing and meeting people (mostly women, but that's a story for another time)

Just think, if I would have walked back and shared a drink or two I might have been here much sooner than I was...ah, missed opportunities! (and here I thought there was only one that evening...)