Company History

Abbey Road was started on September 19, 1982 by myself (Caryl Hoelscher) and John Hoelscher. John had been let go from GM due to the downturn in the economy. I decided that it was time to start a business. Since Ken was 5 years old and Skip was 4, I thought I 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, I 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. I still wear 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 me 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 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 years (since 1982) 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 daughter follow in her father's and grandmother's footsteps.