Shared Photo: Broom Corn

Question

I wanted to share this community. Location: Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Date: 1930.

This is a sample of broom corn from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.  My grandmother and grandfather met while picking broom corn in Texas.  Do they still grow broom corn these days to make brooms??

Click here for the image details page or here for the full-sized version (600 x 382).

Comments

Wow, and thank you Jesse! I have never even heard of Broom Corn before, never mind seen it, absolutely amazing. I thought it was so cool that I passed my laptop around the living room so my family could also learn about this amazing stuff!

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Ha.ha. Funny. I don't think I looked it up before I put it on the profile. But I heard the story years ago.

Answer 1

Hi Jesse,

Great photo and it's something I never knew anything about.

However, here is a link. It's apparently not economical to grow broom corn any more.

Answer 2

Thanks for sharing.    I've seen many corn fields but not this high!!  However, I don't know the current status of broom corn crops.

Answer 3

Great share! Thank you! I don't think I've seen a picture of broom corn before! 

Answer 4

Fascinating! Followed David’s link and learned something new.

Answer 5

At one time, Wichita, Kansas, called itself the broom corn capital of the world.  Broom corn was sent from all over the world here to be made into brooms. It was a thriving industry until World War II when synthetic broom bristles took over, for people felt they picked up stuff easier and making natural brooms was very labor intensive.  One of our broom corn warehouses is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Pages 5 through 8 of the nomination discuss the history of the broom corn industry.

Comments

very cool. thank you Michelle