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| Company History |
Abbey Road was started on September 19, 1982 by Caryl Ann and John
Hoelscher. John had been let go from GM due to the downturn in the economy.
Caryl decided that it was time to start a business. Since Ken was 5 years old
and Skip was 4, Caryl thought she would stay at home with the children,to
answer the phone while John would sweep the chimneys. At that time John
worked half time for Wright State University. The next year John got on full time
with Wright State, and Northmont had all day every other day kindergarten for
Skip. On the days that Ken & Skip were at school, Caryl would sweep chimneys.
John stayed part time in the business for the next 20 years. I'm sure there are
still many of our customers that remember us being in their home when we
wore top hats and tails. Caryl still wears the top hat, but left the tails behind
years ago. The younger sweeps prefer the more modern look of the baseball
cap.
When Ken graduated from Northmont in 1996, he started working in the
business full time. While he was in school, he would often go with Caryl to help
carry the equipment in and out of the house. Everyone who meets Ken knows
that he is a very hard and thorough worker. I take great pride in the fact that
both of my sons have been instilled with the work ethic. This is something that
we look for in all of our employees. We are very pleased to be a family run, and
a family oriented company. It still amazes me when I hear about our clients'
children graduating from college, when it seems only a short time ago that they
were toddlers who were totally fascinated with the chimney being swept so that
Santa would not get his suit dirty.
We have grown from a one truck operation to being able to put three trucks on
the road during the very busy fall season. Our Chimney Safety Institute of
America Certified Sweeps come to your house in clean company uniforms. The
trucks are lettered on all four sides with the company name so that you know
who it is that pulls up to your home. Abbey Road's Certified Sweeps also carry
photo identification. Abbey Road also has C.S.I.A. Certified Dryer Exhaust
Technicians. Ken is the Miami Valley's first F.I.R.E. Certified Inspector.
Abbey Road has spent many years serving the Miami Valley with a very high
standard of quality service. Even though I (Caryl) have achieved the "Golden
Buckeye" years, I am still a C.S.I.A. Certified Sweep and Certified Dryer
Exhaust Technician. I will still run a truck when necessary, but I have to admit
that it does take me 2-3 times longer than Ken to do most tasks. But as my long
time customers know, I was a lot faster in my younger days. I best serve the
company by being a Certified Sweep with almost 25 years of experience in the
field, who answers the phone almost all year . I do turn the phone over to Ken
when I go on vacation. I know a lot of you remember talking to me when I was in
another state during continuing education courses, or on vacation. (What did
we ever do before nationwide cell phones?) Since Abbey Road is a home based
business, and I totally understand that not everyone can call during "normal"
business hours, I am often on the phone helping customers during the evenings
and weekends. But I will tell you that the 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM calls are not my
preference. Yes, I do answer the phone, but not quite as cheerfully as usual.
(And, yes, I am the one who often hears, when I answer the phone, " I thought
that you were a recording". After all these years at that job I haven't yet
decided if that is a compliment or if everyone is just surprised to be able to talk
to a "live and knowledgeable person".
Abbey Road looks forward to serving the Miami Valley for many more years. I
am hoping to have Ken's 7 year old daughter follow in her father's and
grandmother's footsteps.
Hoelscher. John had been let go from GM due to the downturn in the economy.
Caryl decided that it was time to start a business. Since Ken was 5 years old
and Skip was 4, Caryl thought she would stay at home with the children,to
answer the phone while John would sweep the chimneys. At that time John
worked half time for Wright State University. The next year John got on full time
with Wright State, and Northmont had all day every other day kindergarten for
Skip. On the days that Ken & Skip were at school, Caryl would sweep chimneys.
John stayed part time in the business for the next 20 years. I'm sure there are
still many of our customers that remember us being in their home when we
wore top hats and tails. Caryl still wears the top hat, but left the tails behind
years ago. The younger sweeps prefer the more modern look of the baseball
cap.
When Ken graduated from Northmont in 1996, he started working in the
business full time. While he was in school, he would often go with Caryl to help
carry the equipment in and out of the house. Everyone who meets Ken knows
that he is a very hard and thorough worker. I take great pride in the fact that
both of my sons have been instilled with the work ethic. This is something that
we look for in all of our employees. We are very pleased to be a family run, and
a family oriented company. It still amazes me when I hear about our clients'
children graduating from college, when it seems only a short time ago that they
were toddlers who were totally fascinated with the chimney being swept so that
Santa would not get his suit dirty.
We have grown from a one truck operation to being able to put three trucks on
the road during the very busy fall season. Our Chimney Safety Institute of
America Certified Sweeps come to your house in clean company uniforms. The
trucks are lettered on all four sides with the company name so that you know
who it is that pulls up to your home. Abbey Road's Certified Sweeps also carry
photo identification. Abbey Road also has C.S.I.A. Certified Dryer Exhaust
Technicians. Ken is the Miami Valley's first F.I.R.E. Certified Inspector.
Abbey Road has spent many years serving the Miami Valley with a very high
standard of quality service. Even though I (Caryl) have achieved the "Golden
Buckeye" years, I am still a C.S.I.A. Certified Sweep and Certified Dryer
Exhaust Technician. I will still run a truck when necessary, but I have to admit
that it does take me 2-3 times longer than Ken to do most tasks. But as my long
time customers know, I was a lot faster in my younger days. I best serve the
company by being a Certified Sweep with almost 25 years of experience in the
field, who answers the phone almost all year . I do turn the phone over to Ken
when I go on vacation. I know a lot of you remember talking to me when I was in
another state during continuing education courses, or on vacation. (What did
we ever do before nationwide cell phones?) Since Abbey Road is a home based
business, and I totally understand that not everyone can call during "normal"
business hours, I am often on the phone helping customers during the evenings
and weekends. But I will tell you that the 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM calls are not my
preference. Yes, I do answer the phone, but not quite as cheerfully as usual.
(And, yes, I am the one who often hears, when I answer the phone, " I thought
that you were a recording". After all these years at that job I haven't yet
decided if that is a compliment or if everyone is just surprised to be able to talk
to a "live and knowledgeable person".
Abbey Road looks forward to serving the Miami Valley for many more years. I
am hoping to have Ken's 7 year old daughter follow in her father's and
grandmother's footsteps.
(937) 833-0505 (937) 433-8874 (937) 836-9475