COUNTRY BROOMS EVERLASTING
A visit to Merrill Johnson's broom shop in Brownville is a step back in time. The Broom Shop smells faintly of fresh straw from the hurls of broom corn stacked in corners. As visitors wait, owner Merrill Johnson makes a broom to demonstrate what is becoming a lost art. Parlor, hearth, whisk, camper and assorted youth brooms line the wall. The broom machine was made as early as 1876 and is identified as a right-hand squirrel cage or foot power winder No. 3. It was manufactured by W.L. Rosenboom, Co., Chicago.  The winder is over 125 years old.