Matthew James Robinson Jr. was Richmond’s broom maker.

For 63 years, he turned out high-quality wood brooms made of real broomcorn grass at the family-owned, but now defunct Imperial Broom Co.

He also was active in political affairs in Henrico County and in his community, Bungalow City.

His role in Richmond commerce and his civic contributions are being remembered following his death Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. He was 94.

Family and friends will celebrate his life noon Saturday, Sept. 13, at the church where he was an active member, New Bridge Baptist, 5807 Nine Mile Road in Henrico County.

According to his family, Mr. Robinson sought to live by something his father told him: “Eventually, if we just keep standing on each other’s shoulders, one of us will see the light.” 

Born in 1920, he came from a family of broom makers. His great-grandfather started making and peddling handmade brooms around the turn of the century and passed the trade on to his son, who handed it down to Mr. Robinson’s father.

Mr. Robinson got into the business after a stint in the military.

During World War II, he served in the Pacific theater as a master sergeant in the Army Air Corps. After his discharge in 1944, he briefly worked as a railroad porter before returning home to work with his father.

He served a year’s apprenticeship, then became president and majority owner of Imperial Broom Co. after incorporating the business in 1945.

By 1979, he built a modern plant at 214 N. 21st St. and had seven employees turning out brooms, mops and other janitorial supplies for supermarkets, hardware stores and other outlets.

The company also produced specialty wedding brooms for African-Americans that hotels and resorts stocked and that Martha Stewart included in a bridal magazine.

However, competition from China and other countries with cheaper labor ended his business. His $5 brooms lost out as consumers chose the $1 to $2 plastic brooms foreign makers produced.

By 2005, following the death of his son, and partner, Carlton Robinson, Mr. Rollins was down to hand-making a few brooms for customers. By 2007, he had closed the business and rented the factory to Brinkman Interiors, which has turned the building into a woodworking shop.

Along with the broom company, he also teamed with his father in 1956 to create the Mathew J. Robinson Real Estate Co. after earning his real estate broker certificate from the Washington Real Estate and Insurance School. He operated that company for several decades.

Mr. Robinson was esteemed for his civic activity. He was the honorary “mayor” of Bungalow City, the Henrico County community where he lived.

He helped lead the effort to gain water and sewer service for the once neglected community and served for years as president of the Bungalow City Civic Association.

He also served 12 years on the county’s Economic Development Authority and was a longtime member of the Henrico County Democratic Committee. He was part of efforts to gain black representation on the county Board of Supervisors.

Mr. Robinson also was a former trustee of the Virginia Randolph Foundation and was a member of the Metropolitan Business League and East End Masonic Lodge No. 233 F&AM.

At New Bridge Baptist, which his grandparents, John and Martha Miller, helped found, he served as a deacon, a trustee and as superintendent of the Sunday school. He also served on various church committees and for 10 years as scoutmaster of the church’s Boy Scout Troop 400.

Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Helen Nash Robinson; his son, Matthew James Robinson III; his daughter, Yvonne Robinson-Free; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.