About the Meigs County Riverbend Blues Preservation Society
Dedicated to the research, physical preservation, and community education of Ohio River acoustic blues, 1930s spun-aluminum resonator instruments, and Appalachian-Piedmont fingerstyle traditions.
Headquarters: 218 E Main St, Pomeroy, Ohio • Curator: Virgil Thornton, Archival Curator & Acoustic Fingerstyle Guitarist
Our History & Founding
The Meigs County Riverbend Blues Preservation Society was established in the spring of 2013 by a dedicated circle of Ohio Valley musicians, historians, and lutherie enthusiasts under the leadership of acoustic fingerstyle guitarist and folklore researcher Virgil Thornton.
Recognizing that the historic riverfront levee of Pomeroy was a critical nexus for early acoustic blues migration between 1890 and the mid-20th century, the society secured permanent reading-room space at 218 E Main Street. Located directly across from the riverfront levee amphitheater, our physical headquarters houses an extensive collection of 78-RPM shellac disc transfers, luthier setup schematics for vintage National and Dobro resonator guitars, and oral histories recorded from riverboat deckhands and Appalachian musicians.
The Archival Mission
The society operates as an educational cultural association with four core objectives:
1. Resonator Instrument Mechanics
Documenting the acoustic physics and maintenance of 1920s and 1930s spun-aluminum diaphragm guitars. We provide free educational resources—including our interactive Resonator String-Tension Calculator and bench manuals—to assist players and luthiers in preserving vintage instruments without cone damage.
2. Pedagogical Tablature Preservation
Transcribing early Piedmont and Delta fingerstyle guitar arrangements into accessible notation and tablature, focusing on the thumb-independent alternating bass techniques of Blind Blake, Mississippi John Hurt, and Etta Baker. Explore our transcriptions in our Piedmont & Open Tunings Guide.
3. Packet Boat & Levee Oral History
Recording oral histories, song lyrics, and performance recollections from the packet-boat era along the Pomeroy Bend, Gallipolis, and Point Pleasant. Read our historical findings on Ohio River Packet Boats & Levee Music.
4. Living Riverfront Performances
Hosting free community workshops, jam circles, and educational acoustic concerts on the Pomeroy riverfront levee, celebrating front-porch humor, between-song storytelling, and unpretentious musical fellowship. Learn more in our essay on Front-Porch Humor & Blues Stage Banter.
The society welcomes researchers, acoustic players, and folklore students by appointment. Researchers may examine our physical collection of vintage resonator schematics, phonograph recordings, and regional musicology manuscripts. For information on research access terms, please consult our Terms of Educational Access and Archival Privacy Principles.