Olde Broom Factory: Iowa Time Machine February 9, 2008

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On February 9, 2008, the Olde Broom Factory Restaurant in Cedar Falls was demolished. The popular restaurant along the Cedar River served up delicious dishes and breathtaking views for decades while building a reputation as one of Iowa’s best restaurants.

Originally constructed at the north end of Cedar Falls’ Main Street in 1862 for the production of cornstarch, the factory also hosted operations manufacturing wooden pumps, oatmeal, and washing machines. In 1905, C.N. McHugh started operating a broom factory at the site. McHugh’s business thrived for nearly forty years before the widespread adoption of vacuum cleaners undercut the market for brooms. A multifaceted entrepreneur and one-time mayor of Cedar Falls, McHugh also pickled cucumbers bought from local farmers in huge brine vats at the facility. 

Condemned by the city in 1976, Dorothy Stitt saved the building from construction and started one of the Cedar Valley’s most iconic restaurants. After an extensive renovation, including foundation repair and a new roof, Stitt decorated the restaurant with old brooms and antiques to provide ambiance for the restaurant, overlooking the Cedar River. With a clear vision for a menu featuring locally sourced ingredients in made-from-scratch dishes, the Olde Broom Factory grew into a beloved institution. 31 years later, she sold the restaurant to her daughter.

Despite listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and the success of the restaurant, time ultimately caught up with Olde Broom Factory. When a significant roof leak developed in 2007, the tough decision to close the business ultimately came. Engineering reports deemed the building beyond saving, and in early 2008, the structure came down, leaving behind only many memories made at one of Iowa’s best-loved restaurants. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar