(photo source FOX59)
If you’ve ever stopped into the gas station at 71st and College Ave, you’ve probably seen a man selling brooms. He’s there most days throughout the year. Or perhaps you’ve noticed him standing in front of the Nora Post Office with his brooms of various sizes. That’s where I first met Jim Richter, a.k.a ‘The Broom Guy’. He’s been selling brooms for the past 60 years. His story is an interesting one. Jim is in his 70s and is blind. He learned his craft of broom making while at the Indiana School for the Blind years ago. I’ve purchased brooms from Jim, not out of pity, but out of admiration for his drive. He’s not sitting at home waiting for a disability check. Jim puts in a 6 hour day several days a week. That’s more than I can say for most people. But over the weekend I noticed a story in the news about Jim being told he could no longer sell his wares at the Nora Post Office. The story talked about complaints against Jim…something moronic about him swearing at them. I’ve talked with Jim several times, and he is a very gentle man, so I’m not buying these allegations of verbal harassment. And since this story was published, several other media outlets have interviewed citizens who have come to know Jim. They’ve talked with him, bought his brooms and appreciate his work ethic. Others were just as surprised of these odd tales of cursing at customers near the Nora Post Office. True that there are two sides to every story, but I have a feeling that a real life Grinch had it in for Jim and caused enough of a fuss with the Post Office that they had to react. Poor reaction if you ask me. So, you’ll no longer see The Broom guy at the Nora branch, but he still offers his brooms at the BP station at 71st and College. You can’t hold a good man. Keep it up Jim! I’ll be by to purchase a new broom this week…and shoot the breeze with my fellow Hoosier friend.
Read more about ‘The Broom Guy’ from our CBS4 news partner:
