Kansas Citians raise money for local craftsman’s workshop, music venue lost in fire
Kansas Citians are coming together to raise money for a local man who lost his workshop and music venue in a recent fire.
John Boyd, a Kansas City craftsman whose specialties include creating mandolins, lost his shop in a fire in the 3400 block of Genessee on New Year’s Day.
A recent GoFundMe for Boyd, organized by local journalist C. J. Janovy, reads that the workshop was a “sacred place” for the woodworker.
“John and a small group of friends built it by hand, pouring the foundation and using barn wood salvaged from other sacred places around the region, for about $50,000 — not counting sweat,” the GoFundMe says.
The workshop held Boyd’s collection of antique tools collected over the past 40 years.
It also acted as a setting for many concerts by Jammin’ at Johnboy’s, described on its Facebook page as “live acoustic house concerts showcasing the best regional and national roots music in an intimate garden setting.”
“What John created was irreplaceable, but those of you who know him know he’ll recover one way or another,” the GoFundMe reads.
The online fundraiser is intended to help give Boyd the funds to replace the machinery, tools and supplies he lost in the fire.
As of Wednesday morning, more than 130 people had come together to raise nearly $18,000.
This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 6:56 AM.
