Obadiah

I am originally from Michigan. My profession was carpentry, my hobbies, cooperage, cabinetry and furniture. I was also Union Carpenter out of local 998 in Berkly Michigan. We built displays and exhibits for the International Auto Shows. As this job was seasonal, so I supplemented my income as a contractor. I held both a builders/contractors licence and a HAVC/Boiler licence in Michigan.
I also was a major installer for Country Squire Fireplace in Howell Mi. That was the beginning of my career as a Hearth Professional.

In 1999 we moved to Montana where we lived with the Amish for awhile, hence the Amish Cookstoves we sell. We eventually purchased our homestead in Yaak Montana where we currently live. This is the area where many Vietnam Draft Dodgers hid out that did not want to move to Canada. It's really remote, there are still many areas of the valley that still don't have power.
We are about 50 or so miles west of Glacier National Park as the crow flies. Folks here are the hardy independent types. Once your accepted, they are more like family than neighbors.
Because of the remoteness of Montana in general we felt that a mobile hearth showroom would make more sense than a fixed storefront. We built a 40' 5th wheel trailer that we set up as a showroom. It was powered by solar power so we could demonstrate the way it worked as we also sold alternative energy products. We hauled this unit all over Montana to various fairs and festivities.
Eventually we opened a storefront in Libby, Mt. The HPBA and the EPA partnered in the Stove Change Out Program. Due to the poor air quality in Libby and the massive respiratory problems from the Grace Vermiculite mine which had operated in Libby for many years, everyone was required to upgrade their heating appliances. We sold alot of stoves during that program, but after it ended, it became obvious that the market was now saturated.
It was this that fact that shifted our focus to our website. We closed our doors because there was no longer enough business to go around. Our website has been a way for us to provide products to many folks who live in the "Boonies" like us. It has become a family affair and we have prospered by simply treating folks the way we would want to be treated if we were in their shoes. In the process we have developed many friendships with our customers.
We carry a extensive line of wood cookstoves which is our main specialty. We also provide woodstoves and wood burning fireplaces, furnaces and gasification boilers. And of course the chimney pipe to install the appliance.
One of the earlier lines we carried was Autroflamm. When they closed down their US operations we could no longer provide parts to our customers. We sourced a supplier in the US and set up a parts website to meet this need. We have expanded that to include chimney pipe and other products.
We have relaunched our main website www.woodstoves.net and hope to continue to improve our business to better serve our customers.


It was Montana in 2000 where I was first exposed to wildfires. In July we were hammered by a sever lighting storm that started over a hundred wildfires in Yaak Valley were we live. I purchased a Type 6 wildfire engine with a friend and we went through the training and began fighting wildfires. That was when I really was bitten by the "fire bug". I formed Obadiah's Wildfire Fighters and began building another business during the off season. That website is http://www.wildfirefighters.com
I also joined my local volunteer fire dept and now serve on the Board.

Anything that burns, I guess maybe I have Pyro Issues sailing, woodworking, and family stuff.