[KeyStoneChapter] The Blind Broom Man unveiled Yesterday

[The Blind History Lady]

Email from The Blind History Lady The Blind Broom Man unveiled Yesterday Yesterday, Wednesday September 9, 2026, a ceremony took place in Turner Park at the corner of Farnam Street and Turner Boulevard in Midtown Omaha, Nebraska for the unveiling of the bronze "Broom Man" statue. The current and former mayors of Omaha spoke about the legacy of the “Broom Man” and what it meant to them and their hopes for what it will mean for everyone in the future. After the ceremony, many residents stopped by to take a picture with the statue. The “Broom Man” was Reverand Livingston Wills, the blind man who walked the streets of Omaha and surrounding communities six days a week for more than 50 years, selling brooms to support himself and his family.  Livingston was born blind in 1917 near Brownsville, Tennessee. His parents were farmers who raised 11 children, Livingston being the second. At the age of 9, he was sent to the Tennessee School for the Colored Blind. He learned to read and write in Braille, including Braille music. He learned to play the piano and sang in the chorus. The school took the Black children to sing for special events in the community and Livingston was often chosen for these events. The Colored school focused on industrial classes rather than academics for the Black students. Livingston learned to make brooms, cane chairs, and make mattresses.  After leaving school, he returned to his parents farm and worked alongside is father. His older brother became a school teacher and inspired Livingston to do the same. It took him another 5 years before he had enough money to go to school In the fall of 1944, Livingston enrolled at Union College Union Adventist University (known as Union College from 1891 until 2024) a private Seventh-day Adventist institution in Lincoln. During the summers, he worked in the College Broom Shop, and made mats of twine, during his free time in the winter. Fellow students read his books to him while he took Braille notes. Often he carried his Braille writer from class to class and running errands that did not allow him enough time to return to his rooms. During college, all students were encouraged to take an active role in religious activities. Livingston was no exception. He sang and played the piano or organ at church services around Lincoln and Omaha. The Negro Ministries Alliance sponsored many events, and Livingston attended them to listen, learn and give back. Even though he went to school to be an English or History teacher, Livingston soon realized that God was calling his name. After graduation, he moved to Omaha and began his dream of becoming a pastor of his own church. In Omaha, Livingston decided to sell brooms door-to-door. At first the town did not know what to make of the blind, Black man and his brooms. Often the police were called to pick up the blind man and put him in jail. Although he was never charged, it got to be so frequent that Livingston went to the then-mayor, Glen Cunningham and presented his case. The mayor called the chief of police and informed them that the Black, blind guy was just selling brooms door-to-door. Each morning, six days a week, at 6:30 am., Livingston rose, dressed in a suit and tie, grabbed 10 or 12 brooms, and headed to the bus stop. With his short, crooked cane, he traversed the neighborhoods of Omaha and neighboring towns.  He averaged about 100 visits to homes and about 25-40 businesses a day. As he strolled the sidewalks, he whistled. Some say it was for echo location while others said he just liked to whistle. Livingston was never discouraged no matter what. He had a kind word of hope or inspiration to everyone he met. Even when he was bitten by a dog, hit by a car, turned away by a slammed door, thrown to the ground by an angry business owner, and even robbed a time or two, he loved being out with people and spreading happiness.  Soon his customers were looking for him to purchase a broom. In 1971, Mary Palmer was driving down the street when she saw the Broom Man. She stopped her car and asked to purchase a broom. Mary had been a regular customer for years, but in the last four years, she had not had a visit from him or seen him in the neighborhood.  “You’re a long way from home, aren’t you?” Livingston said. “Yes, but how do you know that?” she asked. “By your voice. You’re the lady who lives a block away from the drug store at fifteenth.” he replied. Everyone remarked on his ability to remember voices, names, and even identify the make of a car by its sound. He did become Decon of his church, the Tabernacle Church of Christ Holiness. The church was only a few blocks from his home in one of the poorest sections of town. Each Sunday, he read scripture from his Braille Bible, gave a sermon, and played the piano to accompany the hymns selected for the day. Livingston married twice, outliving both wives. Although he had no biological children of his own, he felt like a father to his wives children. According to an article in 1987, he was proud to claim 7 children, 20 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren as his own. In 1998, he gave up preaching in his church, not by choice. Still, he kept selling his brooms. Livingston died August 22, 2008, at the St. Joseph Villa Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. After his death, the Nebraska State Legislature in 2009 passed the following resolution ONE HUNDRED FIRST LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION 110 Introduced by Howard, WHEREAS Livingston Wills was born blind in 1917 in Brownsville, Tennessee; and WHEREAS Livingston Wills attended Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, studying English and history; and Whereas Livingston Wills moved to Omaha in the 1940s; and WHEREAS Livingston Wills learned how to make brooms as a young boy and sold them door-to-door to support his family throughout his lifetime beginning in the 1950s; and WHEREAS Livingston Wills was known in Omaha as the "Broom Man"; and WHEREAS Livingston Wills was the pastor at Tabernacle Church of Christ Holiness and later became bishop in this church in 1975; and WHEREAS, Livingston Wills believed, "God takes care of me." NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA, FIRST SESSION: 1. That the Legislature recognizes and honors the values demonstrated throughout the lifetime of Livingston Wills. 2. That a copy of this resolution be given to the Livingston Wills family. To hear the news story and part of the ceremony from yesterday, check out the link below. https://www.wowt.com/2026/09/09/omaha-dedicates-bronze-statue-honoring-rev-livingston-wills-broom-man/ Peggy Chong is the 2018 and 2023 Jacob Bolotin Award Winner.   To schedule The Blind History Lady for a presentation for your business, church or community group, email; theblindhistorylady at gmail.com   Please check out my other works at https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/24325   www.theblindhistorylady.com . The Blind History Lady | 14152 E Linvale Pl 201 | Aurora, CO 80014 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/keystonechapter_nfbnet.org/attachments/20260910/f05116e4/attachment.htm>