The shop was almost warm enough to be bearable today, and it needed a good sweeping.
Decades ago, we lived in the middle of Indianapolis, Indiana. A blind man would show up at our house occasionally carrying a dozen or so brooms over his shoulder. He sold brooms made by “Industries for the Blind.” We enthusiastically bought from him because his were really well made brooms of sturdy, thickly padded, broomcorn. They lasted almost forever, more years than I remember. They were the best brooms ever. We left Indianapolis over 30 years ago and there are no blind men walking around selling good brooms where we live now. In that time, the last of the blind-made brooms have worn out.
The last of the real broomcorn brooms I bought at a big-box store was so flimsy, it wouldn’t support its own weight. I’ve witnessed a steady decline in the quality of store bought brooms, seeing broomcorn get thinner and thinner and finally being replaced by plastic bristles, set in plastic heads, attached to plastic handles. They don’t behave like brooms and break too often. Pure junk!
So, I went on a hunt. The answer to my search was not “handmade,” “blind-made,” “sturdy” or any of the other “durable” words, but “broomcorn!” Two new brooms from Broomcorn Johnny’s now hold my praise for the best brooms ever. Brian Newton is the artisan who operates the broom shop named Broomcorn Johnny’s in Brown County, Indiana. We’ve had two of his brooms long enough to know they’re the new “best.” The flat one is what he calls a “cabin broom.” The round one has about the same amount of broomcorn but is tighter wound and great for heavier work. The flat one stays in the house / cabin. The round one just cleaned up the shop better than any broom I’ve had in the past 15 years and hangs there now. (Cabin brooms are available in plain or in a range of color schemes.)
These brooms seem expensive at $60 – $70 each. Yet, I know they’ll easily outlast the $12 box-store brooms by a factor of 8 -10. That makes them a real bargain, and very attractive too. Highly recommended, and I have no financial gain from this recommendation.
My wife grew up in Indy and still talks about the broom man. People in her neighborhood would wait for him to come around or would drive around looking for the spots where he’d sit by the side of the road, making and selling brooms. Great post!
Interesting post, remember the idiom “a new broom sweeps clean”? During our vacation in Kentucky we visited Brea. The college there has an Appalachian Arts program and they too make brooms which you can buy. Same as the ones the broom maker in Pleasant Hill Shaker Village makes. They look like yours and I agree with you — best broom ever!
I have a broom obsession. I noticed the old dairy farmer I go get milk from was always sweeping up with an old broom from twigs which I took as just a hold-over but was once so bold as to query the old man once and it seems the true reason was purely practical. These brooms, it’s also true with straw brooms, do not collect debris like nylon or artificial bristles tend to.
Regards,
E.DB.
Well Aaron, it sounds like that guy got around a lot.
Yes John, there are still a lot of “living history” museums and other places that still make good sturdy brooms the old fashioned way. The most recent I saw was northern Ohio’s Sauder Village. I picked up some small brooms there, but no large ones because we were returning home by air and the brooms wouldn’t fit in our luggage. No mail order from most of those places either.
Absolutely right Ernest! The plastic brooms are especially good at generating static electricity that collects debris to no end.
How do I get one? My Dad’s girlfriend wants one for Christmas. Any hints?
I found these brooms on Etsy
You’re right Heather.
Since writing the original article, “Johnny,” actually Brian, opened an ETSY shop.
As an aside, we recently found the shop on ETSY, but didn’t see the color mix of a previous purchase. A short note to the maker brought us exactly what we asked for. Don’t be shy in asking for a special color mix.
I was raised with these brooms and I love them but over the years they have been very hard to find. These new brooms made from where ever don’t fit in my hand like I like, they are not made of broom straw and don’t last. Where can I get one that fits my hands?
The best suggestion I can make Louise is to try the “Broomcorn Johnny’s” Etsy shop. At the moment, there are no products there, but over on the right is a “Contact ” button you can try.
I remember as a kid my dad would go selling brooms from door to door. Carrying them over his shoulder as one of us four kids with fight to see who could go with him he generally always had one of us with him he would spend his day working at the broom shop making the brooms, and then in the evening he would take one of us kids taking turns to sell his brooms.
I remember he always carried one dozen at a time on weekdays and he would bundle two dozen up for weekends. Most of the time he would sell everything he took out.
He would have the three, four and five sole brooms plus mops, toy brooms and the whisk broom. As well as a couple of push brooms.
This was in the seventies in Indianapolis Indiana I miss those days. My dad retire6d from working at the broom shop.
I remember sometimes we go to the broom shop with my dad and sit on the bales of hay and watching some of the special people making the toy brooms and whisk brooms. While watching my dad stand in front of big machines making the brooms.
My name is Donna Slye and if you knew my dad Andy (Solon) Slye you can feel free to drop me a line on my email at dms.95451@gmail.com
I took my good broomcorn broom yo a charity Christmas party and someone put on an out of sight corner. My friend thought it funnytgat i said i loved that broom because ot wss like thebrooms i knew as a child. I described it like ghe broons that the blind made and sold door to door in Indianapolis. I remember them coming to the door once or twice a year and ny Mom happily buying one. They do not make them like that in Arizona!
I am looking to buy in bulk real corn brooms like described here. My dad, who was blind, sold door to door in Indianapolis in the 60s and I was his eyes.
Suggestions?
Hello Gary,
I sincerely wish I could give you a good answer, but I can no longer find good hand made corn brooms. The fellow who makes the ones I described earlier in this article has apparently retired. No answers from him now.
It seems highly probable to me that we bought brooms from your dad all those years ago (in the North 4300 block of the near east side). They were the best ever, nearly impossible to wear out, but easy to buy again because they were so good. Wish we had some now.
The best advice I can offer you now is to wander the re-enactment settlements. Many of them feature historic exhibits of older crafts and some have broom makers.
All the best, and good luck in your hunt.
Well Gary….
My wife also fondly remembers the man who was probably your father. We looked forward to him coming around again. Now, she is really enamored with Elon Musk’s new “Grok” AI search engine. So, she asked Grok where to find handmade corn brooms and got this answer:
Grok @grok
Oh, you’re looking to sweep up some old-fashioned charm with a handmade corn broom? Well, you’re in luck! Here are a few places where you can snag one of these rustic beauties:
Meckley Brooms – A family-owned business with a history dating back over 100 years, Meckley Brooms offers a variety of colorful and functional handmade corn brooms. You can find them online at their website.
Kick n’ Stitch Brooms – This online shop offers a unique experience, with handmade corn brooms that are both functional and decorative. Check out their website for a virtual visit to a 19th-century broom shop.
Etsy – The handmade marketplace is a treasure trove of handmade corn brooms. You can find a variety of styles, colors, and sizes from independent artisans.
Lehman’s – This store specializes in old-fashioned, authentic products, including handmade corn brooms. You can find them online or at their brick-and-mortar store in Ohio.
Webstaurant Store – This online retailer offers a heavy-duty, authentic Amish-made corn broom that’s perfect for heavy-duty applications.
Local Amish and Mennonite Goods Stores – If you’re in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, you might be able to find handmade corn brooms at local Amish and Mennonite goods stores.
So, whether you’re looking for a traditional broom for sweeping or a decorative piece for your home, you’re sure to find a handmade corn broom that suits your needs!