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Show With her lucky top hat, cheerful smile and special brush, Jill is sure to in the chimney sweep business. clean-u- p s''ESS V k;jtH-jsrc- . .WfPZ- f J V ji ? $fk w - N. v-- i-- 'i ' . b s y I v" f - , ) M i 4r' V , V.- " ,V 1-- ?;.f - vy .a - . liWIlf. .. vi tsi H a vjr v, ; - their military uniform needs, During the regular woikweek when shes not cleaning chimneys, Jill man- ages the Clothing Sales store, where die helps soldiers and airmen alike with Story and Photos by SCT Dave Pinnick During the regular Work week Jill Duncan, (as part of the Supply Storage Branch under Jack Wilde), manages the Clothing Sales Store. But on weekends, she magically transforms herself into a character from the 19th Century. Jill is a chimney sweep; a romantic vision horn a bygone era. This formerly dwindling profession has in recent years been making a comeback, as more people are burning coal and wood because of the energy cruncH. JILL IS one of the newest members of this age-ol- d profession, but why did she become a chimney sweep? For many people, the words chim- ney sweep reminds them of the movie Mary Poppins, in which Dick Van Dyke and compatriots danced and pranced around the sooty roofs of London. While the familiar strains of Chin-chimne- y, chin-chimne- y, chin, chin charee. . may come to mind, the real Job of a chimney sweep and how important it is remains largely unknown by most - . a1 unique, something nobody else does. Its a job that needs to be done, and there is a definite market for it. WHEN people ask her why. of all possible second jobs she chooses to be a chimney sweep, she grins impishly, well-dresse- d - . . her green eyes twinkling 'with laughter and says, Why not? To Jill the job is important, arid while she may cut a comical and romantic 19th century figure in her top hat, coattails and plaid socks,' she takes her job seriously. By cleaning chimneys, she ex- I help to prevent chimney Slains, are caused by creosote (soot) flue. in the buildup THE CREOSOTE comes from . to w V last longer and leave less soot in the Jill demonstrates the proper tools and traditional attire that no chimney. chimney sweep would be without. I ALSO work with local fire departments and schools in costume, to help alert people to the dangers of chimney fires and how to prevent, While the costume and some tradi- homes, my job becomes moi them, she says. of the chimney, sweep remain important. tions Jill has acquired her knowledge as they have for decades, same althe THE BIGGEST part of the job after being a chimney sweep for most a year, after she originally got some concessions to progress have informing people, letting them kno the idea from a handyman been made. And although Jill doesnt the hazards and the need to have the use safety lines while ona roof, she chimneys cleaned at least every tw magazine. Almost $2000 in expenses and a few does wear specially soled shoes, years. After all, wasnt Londo Tooele and Dugway, that caused 'weeks later, after reading the article, gloves, goggles for her eyes, and a sur- leveled twice in the last century b damages ranging from hundreds of Jill was ready to begin her fledgling gical mask to keep from breathing the cause of chimney fires? Those peop over there already know what dollars in Salt Lake to minimum career as a chimney sweep, complete dark soot that comes out of the chimpeop she cleans here when it. are beginning to' realize; a ,clea with authentic costume and tools. ney damage in the home on Dugway. Besides cleaning chimneys, Jill also JILL ALSO carries special insur- chimney means a safer house, sb EQUIPPED with ladders, suction winds her ance, which has added to her initial explained. provides information to her cus- machine arid brushes, she Jill says she really enjoys her worl tomers. 1 explain the kinds of woods little bronze truck between Dugway, "investment as Veil as regular operand Tooele Salt and how expenses. build should to use a and or ating Lake, someday hopes to become a ful Grantsville, they business has the not time needed. she is wherever Though one that repaid chimney sweep after her reput; provides proper good fire; initial investment her a at and tion clientele have both becom $40 is one foils build heat to a home. Too many The job deep in traditions, ; yet, is all it Until better that day die continues o the; larger. getting big, roaring bonfires that end up of them being that as long as the chimney She she confides. e said that there a part-timbais working and infom burning a lot of wood, deposit large chimney sweep have their top hats time, amounts of creosote in the chimney, on, they can never fall. Along with the are several chimney sweeps in Salt ing the public, making friends ati and push most of the heat up and out top hat and coattails tradition, is the. Lake that are working full time and meeting new people. Jill concluded, It is very hard an of the house. Theyd be better off, superstition erf many that to shake doing quite well at it: As to the future of chimney sweeps, dirty work, but I enjoy the attentio she explained, building a smaller fire hands or. to blow a kiss to a chimney out of hardwoods such as cherry or sweep is to have their good luck rub JiU says, As more and more people of being a mysterious and romanti switch to coal or wood to heat their Character. I just love it! maple, which would giye more heat. off on them.' something different, something 'l i burning wood or coal and in time it builds up as a black tarry, or mold-lik- e and extremely flammable soot. According to Jill this can lead to disaster if it builds up beyond a certain point. Eventually it reaches the point where it can ignite and then she says, .. .it goes off just like a rocket and shoots burning debris out over the roof. This in turn can set the house on fire, or even nearby homes ablaze. Last year there were seven chimney, fires in Salt Lake, one each in Jill became. a chimney sweep for practical reasons - like needing extra income to fight inflation. She wanted to own her own business and be her own boss as well. BUT THERE the similarities to other jobs end. I have friends that say my new job is the result of an identity crisis, and its partially true, but its only a small part of a deeper reason, she states. Jill continued, I wanted to do . ; . ... I . V . |