A new Byron’s Bar is in the works for Pomeroy

Friends of Byron Stuart have committed to building him a new bar in Pomeroy before the wrecking ball swings later this summer.

Byron’s Bar, which is probably the World’s Greatest Bar (trademark pending), is set to be razed by order of the city council. The block of buildings erected at the turn of the 20th Century connected to Byron’s is vacant, decrepit and imploding, threatening to pull down the last business on main street.

Byron’s not just a dive bar. It is a live music icon in Iowa whose reputation stretches to Nashville and Austin. Musicians on their way from the Twin Cities to Kansas City stop by on Sundays to pick up $500, free beer and pizza, and lots of love from a devoted audience who drive from Des Moines, Sioux City and Fort Dodge to catch the shows.

This little shrine to Jerry Garcia draped in tie-dyes is among the last bastions of fun in a region starved for it.

So of course Byron and his friends were dismayed by the letter from the city lawyer demanding this public safety issue be abated.

Could the music die?

Hell no.

Organized by Dave Hearn and Steve Irwin, the friends rallied round and raised money. They launched a Go Fund Me page and staged benefit concerts — the Fort Dodge show headlined by Greg Brown was absolutely boffo. Byron was teary and speechless for all the love.

The Friends of Byron checked out what buildings are left in Pomeroy but the pickings were too slim. We continue to tear down small towns, not build them up. They brought in a contractor, Wessels Construction, who said they could put up a building in no time. But it will cost about double what has been raised so far.

So the Friends committed to raising the funds needed to put up a new Byron’s Bar in Pomeroy on an empty lot. Nothing fancy, just a shell with two bathrooms and good acoustics. It’s a bold bet on rural Iowa. They believe they can do it.

One of the traveling minstrels, Vicki Price of Decorah, was listening in on a FOB meeting before she played on a recent Sunday with her husband Joe. She heard the contractor talk, and everyone agreed that this crazy idea of going Byron’s 2.0 is somehow feasible in a town that progress forgot.

Vicki said she had a friend who grew up in Iowa and lives in California. “She said she might throw a chunk of change at this thing,” Vicki told the patrons. Proceeding on faith, the Friends of Byron pledged to git er done.

Chairman Hearn has since reported that Vicki’s friend pledged $30,000 to the cause. That’s some chunk of change!

Angels are floating around everywhere, bless them.

Now it’s everyone’s turn to strike a blow for rural Iowa. The Friends of Byron’s still need to raise about $100,000 to get this humble building up and humming. A state legislative candidate blows that much running for a two-year term to ban books. You would think we could scratch up that much for one thing that lasts and means something.

Byron has been getting patience, forbearance and good will from the city. Now he needs a bit more generosity. As the only regular live music venue in rural Northwest Iowa, it deserves wider support. Byron is just past 70 and won’t live forever despite our fondest hopes, but you can live with the faith that a kindred spirit will keep it going.

It’s high time we started rebuilding rural America instead of letting it rot out.

A plan is in place. Half the money has been raised. People far and wide are pledging their support for a sliver of culture off the beaten path. This is your chance to help a little bar in a small town that feeds starving musicians. The Go Fund Me page is out there. You can contact Chairman Hearn at friendsofbyron2024@gmail.com. We get music. Fiddlers eat. Byron stays in business. Pomeroy gets a decent building that has value going forward. What’s not to love?

Byron has been affected by the affirmation. He may be close to broke feeding the music, but he feels the love.

“I’m truly blessed to have such great friends,” the bartender said.