A Clean Sweep: The History and Crafting of Brooms

Every Sunday Until October 28th, 2018 1:00pm–5:30pm

A Clean Sweep: The History and Crafting of Brooms

Saturday & Sunday 12:00 noon 4:30 PM 12:00

September 15th & 16th

September 22nd & 23rd

September 29th & 30th

October 6th & 7th

October 13th & 14th

October 20th & 21st

October 27th & 28th

People everywhere in the world have used brooms for centuries to sweep caves, cabins and castles, to sweep bedrooms, ballrooms and barns. People found whatever was available: brush, thin twigs, straw and even corn husks were tied to a handle and used to sweep dirt from the floor and ashes from the hearth. These crude brooms were the kind used in New England and elsewhere in America until 1797 when Levi Dickinson, a farmer in Hadley, Massachusetts, grew broom corn and invented tools and equipment to make a sturdy, long-lasting broom. Come to the History Workshop and learn all about brooms, and broom making.  See our crop of broom corn, sweep with a hand-made broom and make a small, serviceable whisk broom to take with you.