FUN FACT: The term “flying off the handle” originated from handmade brooms, which have a tendency to lose their “heads” when used forcefully.
CHECK IN at the general store at Fiddlers Grove, then round the corner past the town hall and amble into Mr. Luther’s Blacksmith Shop and Broom Factory. Though this circa 1836 building used to sit on the bank of Cedar Creek in the village of Taylorsville, it was brought to Fiddlers Grove in 1991. In the early 1900s, Luther Piercey grew broomcorn behind the shop, then used it to craft homemade brooms. His children donated the building after his death.
Beneath the shed-like metal roof, a new artisan breathes life into the rugged walls. Joel Jernigan is a second-generation broom maker and self-proclaimed “jack-of-all-trades.”
Drink in the earthy scents of rustic broomcorn and chiseled wood mingled with wonder. Jernigan has slipped on his trusty bibbed overalls for the last five years and set to work crafting handmade brooms. His father, Ralph, worked for the Vining Broom Company in Springfield, Ohio.
Founded in 1939, the Vining Broom Company was once the largest manufacturer of brooms in the United States, employing over 650 people. On his 16th birthday, Joel began making brooms as well. After high school, he found other employment, but his dad stayed until his retirement in 1988.
“My connection to the craft runs deep. My father was a broom maker from January 1951 to March 1988. Over his 37-year career, he made an estimated 2.4 million brooms before retiring,” recalled Joel.
After his parents retired to Tennessee, it wasn’t long before Joel followed. “I spent three years in East Tennessee before being offered a job in Old Hickory. After researching the area, I chose to settle in Wilson County, where I lived just outside of Mount Juliet. Though I now reside in Sumner County, Wilson County still holds a special place in my heart. After a 23-year career as a maintenance manager in industrial maintenance with BedRug Inc., I retired in January 2020.”
Five years ago, Joel heard that Fiddlers Grove needed someone to revive the art of broom making by teaching others. As an avid craftsman who loves to infuse history into everyday conversations, and as someone who worked in a broom factory and was raised by a broom maker, Joel was a perfect fit.
“Benjamin Franklin brought broomcorn seeds to the United States from Europe in the early 1700s, but they originated in North Africa,” Joel said. “A farmer in Massachusetts is first credited with making a corn broom, but it was the Shakers in upstate New York who made brooms flat in 1796.”
Though bushy stalks of broomcorn rival regular corn, no cobs form. Instead, the tall fibrous plant produces stiff seed-bearing tassels at the top of each stalk. When dried, soaked to become pliable, and bound tightly, stiff fibers become the perfect bristles for a broom.
The motto of Fiddlers Grove is, “Where history isn’t just displayed, it’s performed.” As a volunteer, Joel spends roughly 14 hours inside Mr. Luther’s Broom Factory, passing on his knowledge of the craft to others. Though all colors of broomcorn are available for guests to make custom brooms, according to Joel, the red, white, and blue tricolored brooms are the most popular.
During their annual Pioneer Days, when over 3,000 second-graders visit, he parks his RV at Fiddlers Grove and remains onsite for the duration.
“My contributions at Fiddlers Grove have expanded over the years — from broom-making demonstrations to general maintenance and support. I assist with tasks such as locking and unlocking buildings and gates. I also serve during the annual ‘Ghost in the Grove’ fundraiser, where I welcome guests and organize them into groups.”
From November to January, the annual Dancing Lights of Lebanon will brighten the brisk winter nights. Though this event, complete with synchronized lights, music, and a trip to Santa’s Workshop, occurs next door at the Wilson County Fairgrounds, they donate a portion of the funds raised to Fiddlers Grove.
“I believe events like the Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair bring the community together in celebration of rural heritage and craftsmanship.” Joel added, “When I speak to visitors, I always share a sentiment that has stayed with me over the years: Being an artisan is not in the hands — it’s in the heart.” GN
For more information, or to schedule a broom-making class, visit: www.fiddlersgrovetn.com.
Don’t be ‘Swept Away’ by Folklore & Old Wives’ Tales:
• Sweeping after dark sweeps away prosperity, invites sorrow, and disturbs spirits.
• If you sweep over someone’s feet, they’ll never marry.
• If a broom falls over a doorway, boil a pot of tea because someone is coming to visit.
• Never bring an old broom to a new home. You’ll carry bad luck with you.
• Storing your broom with bristles up brings good luck.
• Don’t sweep on New Year’s Day, or you’ll “sweep away” good fortune and possibly a loved one.
• If you sweep under a sick person’s bed, you’ll have bad luck.
• Never sweep on Fridays — it brings bad luck.
