In response to some user queries about the status of the Age of Reason BBS, sysop Gene Buckle yesterday posted to the comp.sys.apple2 newsgroup that he had finally pulled the plug on the long-running board. Here’s the text of Gene’s post:

Sorry folks, I finally pulled the plug on it and turned the hardware over to a friend of mine. I didn’t have the time that the board really needed.

I’ll get something online to replace it eventually, but it won’t be on an Apple II.

g.

Earlier this year, a power spike during heavy winter storms damaged the Apple II that played host to the BBS, but Gene was able to get it back online. Sad news indeed for Apple II users looking for their BBS fix. The Age of Reason ran on a real Apple II computer and was accessible over the internet via telnet.

Gene Buckle announced today that the Age of Reason BBS is online again, after a power spike during a heavy winter storm early last month damaged the Apple IIe that acted as host for the telnet bulletin board system.  Said Gene, “I finally got the hardware issues straightened out and AoR is back online. The clock is a bit duffy (just remeber that “8:” is 1989. :) ), but other than that it’s ok.”

The Age of Reason BBS can be reached at telnet://aor.retroarchive.org

Gene Buckle reported today that the Apple IIe that hosted the Age of Reason BBS was the victim of power surges resulting from recent heavy snow in his area of western Washington.  Gene is hopeful that he can have the board back up shortly, assuming the Focus IDE controller survived.