History of the Waco Broom and Mop Factory explored.

Waco Broom and Mop Factory is one of the lesser known but well-remembered factories of Waco dating back to the 20th century. Many Waco know about the abandoned dilapidated Waco Broom and Mop Factory warehouses as they drive along Turner Street. This news article will discuss and divulge into history behind Waco Broom and Mop Factory.

Waco Broom and Mop Factory was established as a domestic for-profit corporation by Mark B Simon around 1931. Waco Broom and Mop Factory had their factory and warehouses located at the address of what was 709 Ashburn and 814 Turner Street.

Brooms manufactured at Waco Broom and Mop Factory had a bunch of fiber useful for brushing. The fiber was used in their broom straws. Broom corn on a handle was used to make household brooms. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/47974226/)

Fred Simon Jr. purchased the Waco Broom and Mop Factory from Mark B Simon in 1946. He was operating the Waco Broom and Mop Factory during the 1946-1947 fiscal year. (Ref: http://www.archives.nd.edu/alumnus/vol_0037/vol_0037_issue_0005.pdf)

Waco Broom and Mop Factory was approved for a $11,000 loan with a maturity term of 60 months and an interest rate of 5% per cent by the Small Business Administration in 1956. SBA participation was 75% according to the Small Business Administration. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=lMOU9XZT3aoC&pg=RA4-PA163)

Waco Broom and Mop Factory was one of the oldest manufacturing plants in Waco in 1974. Waco Broom and Mop Factory produced slightly more than 11,000 dozen household and industrial broom corn brooms. The plant also made 7,600 dozen cotton and rayon mops using about 65,000 pounds of mop yard. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/43963093/)

“During the year 1974, the plant produced slightly more than 11,000 dozen household and industrial broom corn brooms; and in doing so consumed 220,000 pounds of broom corn. The plant also made 7,600 dozen cotton and rayon mops using about 65,000 pounds of mop yard. These products were distributed throughout the Southwest at major wholesale and retail grocery outlets and janitorial and industrial supply companies.”

Waco Broom and Mop Factory was re-incorporated on the date of July 26, 1978 as a domestic for-profit corporation by Mark B Simon. However Waco Broom and Mop Factory had dissolved on the date of December 31, 1997 by order of Mark B Simon. (Ref: https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0044238600)

Waco Broom and Mop Factory had merged into Waco Crown Products on September 24, 1997. However the company still operated under the Waco Broom and Mop Factory name. However Waco Crown Products was shut down by the State of Texas on August 30, 2002 due to tax forfeiture. This put an end to spell of  Waco Broom and Mop Factory. Tax forfeiture is what led to the decline of Waco Broom and Mop Factory. (Ref: https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0146155000)

A fire occurred in one of the warehouses belonging to Waco Crown Products and Waco Broom and Mop Factory on April 24, 2005. The fire was ignited by rolled paper and rolled fabric bounded by wound material from discarded materials or products that had been abandoned following the tax forfeiture. The fire caused $160 in damages and loss. (Ref: https://homemetry.com/house/814+TURNER+ST,+Waco+TX)

Waco Broom and Mop Factory was demolished by the City of Waco during the summer of 2013. The City of Waco deemed the Waco Broom and Mop Factory warehouses as a dangerous eyesore which needed to be torn down. So the City of Waco pledged to tear down the Waco Broom and Mop Factory warehouses. (Ref: https://wacotrib.com/news/government/neighbors-watch-as-city-pledges-action-on-eyesores/article_0b776c91-7d4f-5e24-9325-71454add51ec.html)

“Among the longstanding eyesores that were demolished in the past year: Waco Broom and Mop Factory and the former R.L. Smith School, both on Turner Street; the abandoned Clay Avenue Christian Church building; and the Metropolitan Apartments on North 15th Street, which burned July 11, the day the city was seeking bids for its demolition.”

The property was sold to Union Pacific Railroad Co around 2016. Union Pacific Railroad deeded the land to the City of Waco in 2016. (Ref: https://propaccess.trueautomation.com/clientdb/Property.aspx?cid=20&prop_id=161862)

Modern property records maintained by the McLennan County Appraisal District and the City of Waco indicate that the current owner is the City of Waco, doing business as “Waco Broom & Mop Factory (formerly)”. (Ref: https://ecf.cofc.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2017cv0668-57-0)

Waco Broom and Mop Factory was located at 709 Ashburn Street, Waco, Texas, US 76704 and 814 Turner Street, Waco, Texas, US 76704. Their PO Box was PO Box 1656, Waco, TX 76703.