It has been over fifty years since the straw cutting machine was first made in the 1800s. Most of them are now made out of cast iron instead of wood. Some of the machines were called calf cutters because they were mostly used to cut hay and straw. Straw cutters could come in all different sizes. They could also be used to cut other things too. The feed cutters had a pair of feed rollers that would push the straw or hay out. Most of the straw that was cut was turned into brooms instead of feed for the animals. The straw cutting machines could cut more when they were advanced. Mr. Homer Cook was the only corn broom maker in 1925. In 1928 Arthur C. Howe began fixing up the broom mill with his own money. Then in 1947 he was able to finish the job because the town voted to give him money.