By Nikki Blankenship 12/14/19 8:54 pm
Rob Black, founder of the Boneyfiddle Project, says joining Portsmouth City Council is an opportunity for him to continue downtown revitalization.
Black and his wife of 47 years, Julia, first moved to Portsmouth 12 years ago from Middletown.
“When we moved here, there was nothing going on in Portsmouth. There was no social scene. Everyone was negative. The whole town was negative,” he remembered. “So, we decided that if we were going to stay here in Portsmouth, we were going to have to work to make things more positive.”
Black talked about how the arts scene was nearly nonexistent, there was no one downtown, infrastructure was suffering and the streets were empty. After living in the city for six years, the musician in Black sought an outlet. At that time, downtown business owner and musician Gail Valentine had expressed an interest in someone writing a song about Boneyfiddle. Black worked with other local artists to produce the song “Boneyfiddle Boneyfiddle.” Bringing in local musical acts and artist Charlie Haskins, the project went from a single song to a full album -- “Welcome to P-Town.”
“It was all produced here locally. It was all done here in Boneyfiddle,” Black explained.
From that first CD, Black says he was able to secure enough funds to start the Boneyfiddle Project nonprofit organization designed to use the arts as an economic driver for the City’s downtown area.
The Boneyfiddle Project is now in its sixth year. Through the nonprofit, Black and his wife have hosted the Final Friday concert series. Since that time, Final Friday has continued to grow each year, bringing hundreds of local, regional and national acts to Portsmouth. During that first year, Final Friday was drawing in crowds of 300-400. Recently, the audience has been in excess of 1,500 at times. Final Friday will begin its 6th season in May.
After beginning the concert series, Black and the Boneyfiddle Project went to work on a second CD -- “Welcome Back P-Town.” While working on that CD, Black was inspired by the story of Bessie Tomlin, the heroic Portsmouth woman who died in the 1937 Flood while saving her baby from flood waters. Her story inspired the song “Bessie Lift Your Baby Up.” This story was so important to Black because it showed what Black endearingly referred to as “the spirit of our people,” as the citizens of Portsmouth came together to save each other and how despite being ripped apart by flood waters and tragedy, the city was able to revive. That was the spirit Black hoped to see the city emulate.
Black says that of all the things the Boneyfiddle Project has accomplished, his favorite thing was being able to assist those living and working in Boneyfiddle a few years ago when one of downtown’s historic buildings collapsed. Black put together a benefit concert to assist in the recovery, not only to the area but to the individuals impacted. Soon after, downtown business Ghosts in the Attic began work on improvements to the facade of their building through grant funding offered by Main Street Portsmouth. They became the first recipients of the Boneyfiddle Beautification Award. The award has been given out 15 times in the past three years to entities working towards a more beautiful downtown district.
“It’s was a way to restore pride, and I think that’s the important thing that happened at that time,” Black explained.
The arts had been revived, people were crowding downtown, businesses were concerned about making their space nice.
“I’m talking about before Friends of Portsmouth. I’m talking about before Patties and Pints. It wasn’t there. It wasn’t happening,” Black explained.
But, it was clear change was taking place, he assured.
“We opened the gates,” Black said. “When we opened the gates, Friends of Portsmouth came in, Patties and Pints came in, businesses started coming back, investments started taking place, pride started coming back. We watched all of this happen over the last three years, and it’s been the most uplifting thing. And now we have a chance to have a City Council that’s progressive, that can cooperate, that can move our City forward. That’s already started.”
Black feels he can continue to help drive that change by offering his time, wisdom and desire to “continue to change the narrative” of Portsmouth.
If chosen as the Councilman of the 5th Ward, Black says he would hold on to that focus of working with those in Portsmouth’s downtown. He added that he would support the City Manager Sam Sutherland, stating that he disagreed with the actions of Council during the time of former City Manager Derek Allen.
“They hired a competent city manager, and then wouldn’t let him do his job,” Black commented. “I am a fan of the job Sutherland is doing. I support him, and I support the city workers.”
Black concluded that he has considered running for a seat on City Council previously, has worked with Council members and local entities on projects over the past several years and has also assisted with political campaigns.
“I like the fact that it’s a two year commitment at this point,” he stated.
The City of Portsmouth started taking applications for the 5th Ward Council position after Councilman Gene Meadows announced he would be leaving the position last month. Meadow’s resignation will take effect Monday, Dec. 16. The individual appointed to fill the position will serve the remainder of Meadow’s term, up for reelection in two years. Other applicants include Barbara Biggs, George Davis IV, Will Mault and Edwin Martell.
City Clerk Diana Ratliff explained that the deadline to apply for the position was Thursday, and Council is expected to interview applicants towards the end of Monday night’s meeting set for 6 p.m. in Council Chambers located on the second floor of the municipal building on Second St. in Portsmouth.
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