WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsRestoring History

MADISON (WKOW)--Preserving history has become more than just a hobby for one Madison-area man. It makes Rick Gloe 'Someone You Should Know.'

"Pieces in here are well over 100 years old and they are still functional," said Rick Gloe.

You could call Rick Gloe a type of surgeon.

"We just try to save them and keep them alive," said Rick.

His patients are wood burning stoves from the late 1800's and early 1900's.

"If you don't fix it, nobody else is going to, so it's gone, its gone," said Rick.

Rick deconstructs the old stoves.

"I love them all, that's my problem," said Rick. "It's a sickness, a disease. They all look nice to me."

He sandblasts the parts and cleans them to remove the rust.

"Stoves in here run in price from $600 to $4,000," said Rick.

New pieces are molded if needed.

"A lot of times it's just a guess," said Rick.

The nickel, chrome or copper is buffed and polished until it shines again. Then he puts it all back together again.

"What size room would this heat," I asked.   "A house," said Rick.

While each stove has its own character, a current mammoth project is truly in a class of its own.

"They made these stoves for old school houses, churches, one room school houses, general stores," said Rick.

Rick kept track of his progress on this stove from 1906 on his web site. It certainly helped the owner in Minnesota see his historic stove be reborn.

"It's finished and another one saved," said Rick. "Pretty cool."

Click here to learn more about Madison Stove Works.