Our History
Collett Hardware Store: The Early Years
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Pictured above is Bob Collett at Collett Hardware
in the early 1930s. Bob's son and Collett Propane's co-founder,
Don Collett, was also present when the photo was taken.
About 8 years old at the time, Don was instructed to
hide behind the counter. |
Collett Propane’s
roots extend back to 1919. That was the year Bob Collett founded
Collett Hardware in the
small farming community of New Burlington, Ohio.
Having just
returned from service in World War I, Bob sensed the store would
be successful
due to its central location between the towns of Xenia and
Wilmington.
And Bob’s instincts were right! Customers came from miles around
not only out of convenience, but also because of Bob’s commitment
to service.
The store satisfied the needs of neighboring families and businesses
for over 50 years. People counted on Collett Hardware for
its abundant inventory and expert
advice.
The store was also a popular gathering place, where the locals
shared news and socialized. And that is where Bob’s son,
Don, spent much of his time growing up.
The family store instilled in Don an appreciation for
working
hard to please customers. Years later, that lesson proved valuable
when Don co-founded Collett Propane with his brother Chuck.
The old hardware store and New Burlington are a distant memory
now. In 1972, Collett Hardware relocated to Rt. 73 near the intersection
of I-71.
(The
propane business continues to operate there.)
Shortly after the move,
the Army Corps
of Engineers flooded the valley where New Burlington was nestled,
creating
Caesar Creek Lake and State Park.
Propane Becomes a Popular Energy Source
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“In the early years, business grew fast. But it
was 10, 15 and 20 hour days.”
Don Collett
Co-founder,
Collett Propane |
In 1952, the Ohio highway department closed Rt. 42 for
repairs. For a while, traffic was routed through New Burlington
past Collett Hardware.
A traveling propane distributor noticed the
store and
stopped in. He chatted with Don Collett, who was manager at
the time.
Don believed that selling propane would be an excellent
business move
due to the growing popularity of the fuel.
Soon after, Don
and his brother Chuck formed a partnership in the propane business,
initially
offering
100 lb. cylinders. Their first delivery was the day before
Thanksgiving, 1952.
Propane was generally used in cook stoves back then, replacing
kerosene and gasoline because of its safety and cleanliness.
Not surprisingly, the Collett brothers’ propane
business grew steadily with the popularity of the fuel, and as their
reputation spread for excellent customer service.
During the 1960s, demand for propane swelled as it
replaced coal and fuel oil for home heating. It was also popular on
farms for
drying grain. In
fact, during
the late ’60s and early ’70s, the bulk of propane Collett
sold was for grain drying.
Over time, residential use again became
the majority of Collett’s
business. Propane’s energy efficiency, cost effectiveness,
portability and cleanliness were largely responsible for its wide-spread
acceptance.
In 1982, Jane Collett (Newton), Don’s daughter, joined the company
after earning a business degree from Wright State University.
Three years
later,
a second Collett Propane plant and office was established
in the Xenia Industrial Park to improve distribution in that region.
Growing to Meet the Needs of Our Customers
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“We plan to grow at a controlled rate
while providing the best service possible.”
Jane Newton
President
Collett Propane |
Today, Collett Propane is a respected, full service propane
distributor primarily serving Greene, Clinton and Warren counties.
Every
year, larger portions of Montgomery, Clark, Fayette, Highland and
Madison counties are being serviced by us. The growth of our company
is paralleling
the expanding population in these rural regions of Southwest Ohio.
Our three plants and office staff are located in:
- Xenia: in the
Xenia Industrial Park
- Wilmington: on Rt. 73 northwest of Wilmington near
the I-71 interchange
- Lebanon: on South US 42 just south of Lebanon
As we grow, our dedication
to the highest level of professional service remains the same.
Currently,
Collett Propane has over 7,000 customers. Approximately 80%
are residential accounts.
The rest are commercial, industrial or agricultural customers.
We’re excited about our company’s future! Propane energy is expected
to make significant contributions to society in the coming decades.
Already,
super high-efficiency propane appliances are available and other applications,
like powering school buses, assure a growing demand for many years
to come. In fact, propane is expected to team up with fuel-cell science
to facilitate
economical
production of electricity by individual households.
As technology changes,
we will continue to evolve our operations to match our customer
requirements.
Since 1952, our propane operations have
remained “family,” despite
the industry trend of take-overs and mergers. Truly, we enjoy the
personal involvement that our family-owned business offers.
We work hard to assure every customer
the same high quality, friendly service we’ve been known
for since the very beginning.
We promise every customer the highest
level of reliability, safety and sensitivity to their needs. It’s
been that way since 1952 and we don’t
want to change our formula for success.
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