Glenco Fireplaces

Necessity is the mother of invention, they say. In the case of Stoll Fireplace Equipment, it started a business. That business today employs many people, and from its Abbeville area base has a marketing area that encompasses the United States and Canada. But it all began 40 years ago when Bill Stoll found his house had a fireplace he couldn't find a screen to fit. Mr. Stoll had moved to the Abbeville area from Virginia. The one-story brick house he moved into had an unusually large fireplace. Bill made a screen to fit' he estimates that the screen was 48 by 30 inches. That was bigger than what was ordinarily made at that time, and Bill recalled that the response was entirely unexpected. I didn't have any idea I'd be making fireplace screens for a living, he said. But he did, and he started a trend. His neighbors began asking him to make fireplace equipment for them, and a business was born. Today, two of Mr. Stoll's sons' Dennis and Robert' own the business. The business has grown and they make a wide range of Hearth products. The products are still custom made for individual fireplaces. Mr. William F. Stoll, Sr., founder of Stoll Fireplace, Inc passed on to his eternal reward on November 2, 2008. Mr. Stoll was 94 years old, and is survived by Katie, his wife of 67 years. Mr. Stoll lived a full life, centered around serving others. He remained active throughout his life, and could be seen here at the plant or on errands for Stoll Fireplace up until the last couple months. His smiling face and genuine care for people will be greatly missed. We are all very sad to see him go, but we know he was ready to leave this earth. He lived a long, good, life here, and was looking forward to the time he could trade his earthly body for a heavenly one.