The obvious first BBSs were Ward & Randy's CBBS in Chicago. I dialed
into that thing many times from my homebuilt CP/M machine with a $100
surplus AJ accoustic coupler modem and a Model 500 dial phone, in Boston
MA. Busy-busting with a dial phone == no fun. Very late 1970's.
There were a few BBSs in the Boston area, NECS BBS, Andover Cnode (upon
which was first discussed a hare-brained idea, author unknown, for
linking BBSs that made me work out how to pull off FidoNet a few years
later), another club BBS that ran BYE, a fe wmore I cannot recall. All
late 1970's.