A Short History of FOSSILS
A series written by Roger A. Baylor, President-for-Life Emeritus.
There hasn't been time to write for a while, so until such a time as this history can be carried forward, here's what we have.
Introduction: "What Is It with You Guys, Anyway?"
The five-year anniversary of the Fermenters of Special Southern Indiana Libations Society on September 30, 1995 is an appropriate time for a retrospective. The group has changed much in this time, and many current members who weren't around in the beginning might be interested to learn something about the club's origins. I began by assembling all 60 issues of Walking the Dog, and immediately I was struck by the notion that our newsletter has evolved into a substantial body of work. The newsletter has been my responsibility since the beginning, and with the exception of the issues edited by Barry Sears during my stay in Slovakia, I've edited them all. Naturally, any attempted survey of FOSSILS history must lean heavily on the words found in Walking the Dog, and numerous excerpts are included in the following. These are supplemented by information found in our admittedly scattershot archives, which are composed of four large cardboard file boxes, and with my running (and sometimes stumbling) commentary. The intent is to recount the things we've done and the times we've had, and to interpret these in the light of the perspective that I hope we've gained after five years of manning the revolutionary ramparts -- not that the revolution was so clearly defined for us in the beginning, but the glimmer was there all along. Much will be omitted, but I hope that this is only temporary, as I hope to incorporate personal recollections and testimonials in future installments of this story. I've always wanted to write a book, and in the story of FOSSILS there is plenty enough to prompt such an undertaking. Thousands of words, thousands of beers ... sounds like an epic to me. My immediate advice to my readers, most of whom weren't around in the beginning, is to pour a beer, find a comfortable spot for reading and enjoy the ride.
Part 1: Beginnings in 1990 to July, 1991
Part 2: August, 1991 to February, 1992; "Truth, Righteousness and Common Sense Will Be Our Banner"
Part 3: February, 1992 to November, 1992; "We Can Preach, Teach, Brew and Bash All At Once."
