Tom Jones Broom Shop at Cedars of Lebanon State Park is a can’t miss stop for locals and travelers alike. If you’re in the Lebanon, Tennessee area, make a plan to visit this Wilson County hidden gem. While there, you’ll meet Tom Jones, a true craftsman who trades in chat as well as brooms. He’ll tell you how his grandfather turned a hobby into a legacy and how Tom Jones Broom Shop became a local attraction.

Some of you are probably thinking, “A broom shop? Really?” I know, I know. I thought the same thing.

How Did I Discover Tom Jones Broom Shop?

I was researching local historic sites and parks I could visit within an hour from home. I was scrolling through the Tennessee State Parks website when I found a tour of Sadie Ford Farm and Tom Jones Broom Shop on the Cedars of Lebanon State Park Events page.

My first thought was, “No way am I going to a broom shop. How boring. Who cares about brooms?”

Then I got bored enough to sign up for a tour.

The Tour

I showed up the next morning at Sadie Ford Farm a few minutes after my ranger-led tour was supposed to start. Just before I pulled up to the entrance, I saw the park ranger leaving. (Tip: Don’t be late for your tour.)

But the sign outside the broom shop said “Open”, so I figured, “What the heck. I might as well see it since I drove all the way here.” And that’s how I met Tom Jones, broom maker.

Turns out, I got lucky. Not only did I get a tour of the broom shop, but I also got a personal tour of Sadie Ford Farm by the broom maker himself. Tom told me all about the family who built the 1920’s-1930’s Sears & Roebuck kit home and how the farm came to be part of the Cedars of Lebanon State Park.

Tom has volunteered numerous hours to Sadie Ford Farm’s preservation. He’s a stickler for making things historically accurate and doesn’t mind doing the work himself to ensure it’s up to snuff.

I was glad I got to enjoy an informal tour of the Sadie Ford farmhouse, but the broom shop was the big winner for me. An hour quickly passed as I hung out in Tom’s shop and listened to him talk about his heritage and how he makes his remarkable brooms.

Was I bored? Not for a second!

Tom’s Aren’t Your Ordinary Brooms

You won’t find any ordinary, just stirring up-dust dollar store brooms in Tom Jones Broom Shop. Tom’s brooms are lovingly crafted with solid wood handles and real broomcorn, the staple of his trade. According to Tom, there’s no substitute for good old broomcorn. At least no substitute worth a durn. And he should know. He’s been at this broom thing a long time.

Tom’s brooms are the real deal. The kind your granny used to sweep her front porch and run the hound out of the henhouse.

Why Does Broomcorn Make Better Brooms?

It’s much stiffer and more absorbent than any synthetic material used for broom making. And it lasts. Probably for a lifetime if you maintain it properly which Tom will tell you how to do.

Traditional broom making is a dying art falling victim to the mass-produced, low-quality brooms and “robots”. You know those things I’m talking about. But those “robots” sweeping the market don’t clean your floor nearly as well as one of Tom’s hand-crafted brooms. I’ve had a “robot” and there’s a reason I don’t have one anymore.

Because Tom is sticking to the same old-school broom making process his grandfather used, he is one of the most respected traditional broom makers in the United States. And to think, you can find him in small town Lebanon, Tennessee!

It All Started with Tom’s Grandfather

Tom’s grandfather, a local farmer, learned the art of broom making and became an expert. He built a successful business and grew a reputation that stretched far and wide. He even designed his own label! Tom Jones pays homage to his grandfather by putting that same label on every broom coming out of his shop.

What Makes Tom Jones Broom Shop So Special?

Besides the brooms? A lot.

Tom Jones Broom Shop is housed in the same building his grandfather used. Although it looks as if it’s been in this spot forever, this isn’t its original site. A few years ago, Tom salvaged his grandfather’s shop from a local property and moved it to Sadie Ford Farm. Since then, Tom has devoted countless hours to restoring the shop to its mostly original condition, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Tom’s is truly a labor of love.

Most of the equipment Tom uses belonged to his grandfather, but it didn’t come with the shop. Tom bought the equipment at an auction four decades ago with the dream of opening his own broom shop. That dream has now come true.

Get One of Tom’s Brooms for Yourself

Tom has a wide selection of ready-made brooms available for purchase. If you don’t see one you like, Tom can customize one for you. Custom orders take time to fill, but Tom’s brooms are worth the wait. Mine was ready in about five weeks, and I don’t look disappointed, do I?

Get a broom customized for Halloween, Christmas, your favorite sports team, or to match your home decor. Ask Tom which famous people own his patriotic red, white, and blue brooms. You may be surprised who’s on the list!

Tom’s brooms make very unique gifts and who doesn’t love a gift that’s decorative and functional?

What Makes Tom Jones Broom Shop Even More Special?

Tom donates all of the proceeds from his broom sales to Cedars of Lebanon State Park. You read that correctly. He donates every cent. So, not only are you getting the best broom you’ll ever own when you buy from Tom, but you’re also supporting the state park. And when it comes to maintaining and improving state parks, every dollar makes a difference.

Don’t Miss Tom Jones Broom Shop!

If you’re ever in the area, be sure to stop by the broom shop at Cedars of Lebanon State Park’s Sadie Form Farm (Saturdays only, 10 AM- 4 PM) and introduce yourself to Mr. Jones. The genteel, overall-wearing, Southern drawling craftsman will welcome you to stay awhile and come back anytime.

And if you’re interested in local history, Tom Jones can spill some sweet tea! All you’ve got to do is ask.

Sure, Tom Jones Broom Shop is special, but the broom maker, Tom Jones is Wilson County’s true hidden gem.

Before or After Tom Jones Broom Shop

Sadie Ford Heritage Farm and Cultural Arts Center

5220 Murfreesboro Rd., Lebanon, TN- same location as Tom Jones Broom Shop

Take some time to explore Sadie Ford Farm. A recently improved trail meanders around the bucolic property and features a picturesque pond, cedar glade, and historic barn. Cedars of Lebanon State Park often offers ranger-led walks around the farm.

Insider Tip: If you aren’t able to get a ranger-led tour of the Sadie Ford home, Tom might be willing to give you one himself if he’s got the time. Last I heard, he still has a key. I imagine Tom can tell you more about the history of the house and the people who lived in it than even the park rangers can.

If you’re interested in touring other Middle Tennessee historic homes, travel over to my article Rippa Villa, Carnton & Carter House- 3 Middle TN Civil War Survivors.

Cedars of Lebanon State Park

328 Cedar Forest Rd., Lebanon, TN

The park offers cave tours, easy hiking trails, Civilian Conservation Corps structures, and a variety of educational programs. I’ll be featuring my top 5 things to do at Cedars of Lebanon State Park soon. Subscribe to my blog in the link below for updates.

And Since You’re in Town…

You might as well experience more of Lebanon’s local charm. Get some ice cream at Shop Springs Creamery or Main Street Mercantile & Creamery (try the Strawberry Sparkling Lemonade Float), do a little shopping and dining on Lebanon’s town square, and visit one of Wilson County’s most famous attractions, Fiddlers Grove Historic Village located at the Wilson County Fairgrounds.

Tom Jones has a second broom shop at Fiddlers Grove, but he’s quick to tell you he loves working at his grandfather’s shop more.

For more information about what to see and do in Wilson County, Tennessee, go to www.visitwilsontn.com.

From the Library