Krista Jones

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Broom Place

      Another must-see SC folk art stop is located in the small town of Boykin. Located between Sumter and Camden off Highway 521, Boykin is the site of Boykin Mill, a 200 year-old corn mill, the last battle of the Civil War on April 18, 1865, a few restaurants and the Broom Place.

Boykin, SC with Broom Place on far left (photo by Krista Jones)

      Now, at first a place that produces brooms may not appear as an attraction, especially if they do not fly. But these brooms are special in a non-magical way. Broom-maker in residence, Susan Simpson, creates these brooms using the same techniques employed in past centuries with period machinery. On top of that, the straw is bright colors such as red, yellow, green and blue. Not even witches and wizards have such fanciful broom heads as these!

      Nathan and I drove to Boykin to visit Broom Place Wednesday. Unfortunately, we did not arrive in Boykin in time to meet Susan at Broom Place as it was after 5 o'clock. However, we were able to see Broom Place, which is housed in a renovated 18th century period home, and can vouch for its existence.  Next time we are in the area, we are planning to visit Susan at the Broom Place and encourage you to do the same.

Broom Place (photo by Krista Jones)

      If you plan on visiting Boykin and the Broom place, the address is:

82 Boykin Mill Road
Rembert, SC 29128

Monday through Friday— 10:30am to 5:00pm
Saturday— 10:30 to 2:00pm

      Broom Place's telephone: (803)-425-0933
       
     Boykin Mill Farms website's entry on Broom Place: http://www.boykinmillfarms.com/broom.asp

Signing off,

Krista

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