BroomsByChris.com
Title
Brooms By Chris
Description
While much of our past is being lost, a local youth is mastering the dying art of broom making. Fifteen-year-old Chris Robbins, son of Miachel and Peggy Robbins of Brodhead, is in his second year of making brooms the old fashion way. He uses a winder that was constructed with wooden pegs to hold it together that is probably over 100 years old. The winder is used to attach the broomcorn to the handle. His vice, which is used to tie the brooms, has the date of September 10, 1878. His shaker style brooms are not only a work of art, but useful as well. Chris is able to make a finished broom in about twenty minutes. They can be seen and purchased at the craft shop in the log cabin village in Renfro Valley.
Chris became interested in broom making while helping to finish the log cabin village in Renfro Valley in Spring of 1999. While helping to finish the village, he would go into the broom shop and try his hand at winding broomcorn on the handles. He continued going back as often as possible. Mrs. Betty Lindbloom, a former broom maker and a clerk at the craft store, was very encouraging to Chris to keep practicing. While visiting the Indian Fort Theatre Crafts Fair that summer, he met Mr. Jim Harmon, a broom maker from Springfield, KY. Mr. Harmon volunteered to come down one day and work with Chris at the broom shop. Those days at the village was all it took for Chris to realize the importance of keeping the dying art of broom making alive. Chris was able to purchase his own equipment from Mr. Harmon this past summer. He has been very helpful and supportive in Chris’s work.
Having his own equipment has allowed Chris to attend a couple of festivals this fall. Chris attributes his ability to demonstrate his craft in public to his experiences with the Rockcastle Co. 4-H program. The opportunities of speeches, demonstrations, variety shows, poster contests, and many other related 4-H activities, has given him the confidence to achieve whatever goals he sets. Chris hopes to demonstrate his art of broom making at several festivals this next year.
Languages
English
