In the Beginning

Inspired by an ad in Mother Earth magazine, Dale went to Black Magic Chimney Sweep School in Stowe, Vermont to become Maryland’s 1st Certified Chimney Sweep. In 1978, this aspiring young couple launched a small side business, sweeping chimneys on the weekends. Rona assisted Dale with the chimney sweeps until they became pregnant with their first child together. For three years, they both worked at Xerox, and Dale continued to sweep on the side. They began to hire additional help and the sweep business continued to grow. In 1981 they made a great leap and purchased the Buck Stove store, an established wood stove retailer. Buck Stove was a major brand and the Kelley’s had an exclusive franchise. With a limited 200 sq. ft. warehouse, they broadened the business by offering other lines of stoves. Despite seven competitors in the area, they prospered. Initially, it was the product recognition that created the success, but as time went on, they proved their selves to be honest and service oriented. “Our chimney sweeps also did our service work, so we could do stove installations and be full service” says Rona Kelley. When a local competitor went out of business a year later, the Kelley’s moved into an 800 sq ft space and added more fireplaces and more consumable items such as gaskets, stove paint, tool sets and kettles. The five years the Kelley’s spent in the new building were not easy. It was drafty and barn-like. They utilized the floor displays for heat. In the warmer months there was no air conditioning. As they grew, they were forced to rent a separate warehouse facility. During this period they continued to be a virtual duet, Dale and Rona doing it all. For a short period they had a salesman from the defunct competitor. The Kelley’s worked 12 hours a day, six or seven days a week. They could not even take a vacation!

Keeping their dreams ever in front of them, the Kelley’s purchased some land on the same five-mile stretch of road to build their own new store. However, it was five years until they could do so. In the mean time they moved to their third location, a 2,500 sq ft showroom and nearly 7,000sq ft of warehouse. During this time the Kelley’s now had five full time staff and two full time sweeps. They also pondered adding casual furniture to their lineup, but did not want to compete with Brighton’s, a patio store that was close by. The Waldorf branch of Brighton’s soon closed, allowing Dale and Rona to add the casual furniture segment to their lineup of products. This changed the company from Tri County Energy systems to Tri County Hearth and Patio Center.

With space at a premium the Kelley’s, in 1994, moved into their current location at 2475 Old Washington Road, a whopping 9,000 sq ft. of showroom with an open floor plan and 2nd floor balconies to display a large assortment of casual furniture. Tri County Hearth and Patio Center is now and continues to be Southern Maryland’s premier Fireplace & Casual Furniture store. Tri County Hearth and Patio Center now employs five full time sales staff, eight chimney sweeps/service technicians and four office support staff members that are dedicated to the sales and service of hearth and patio products. Rona is still around ensuring the same high level of customer service that made the company the success it is today and even Dale pokes his head in from time to time when he can pull himself away from some well-earned retirement time.

That first pregnancy together brought me, Joshua Kelley, Service Manager for Tri County Hearth and Patio Center. I am proud to be a part of this ever-growing business and I look forward to the opportunity to make your personal hearth experience a warm one.

- Joshua Kelley