A gentleman named Don Bliss started the business in early 1950. Mr. Bliss
was known in the area as a "Mr. Fixit" individual. Mr. Bliss spent most of his time doing repairs on gas, oil, electric furnaces,
and oil boilers. In the early 1950's he had done work for an individual by the name of George Schaffer. Mr. Schaffer
was a young man that had just started a realator business. At that point, Mr. Bliss was encouraged by Mr. Schaffer to get
involved in all of the new construction HVAC business in Sioux Falls. Most of the their work was done in the Hilltop
area and the area in the new part of Sioux Falls near 33rd street and West avenue. Mr. Bliss had at one time approximately
10 people working in his business.
Due to the dwindled economy in the early 1980's and just becoming tired from working very hard, Mr.
Bliss decided to retire and sell the business. Two young men from a heating wholesale house made purchase of the business
in 1985. They were Pete Ackerman and Robert Ritter. Their focus was to continue the service that Mr. Bliss had built and to
promote their business in the booming economy in the Sioux Falls area. At this time they became a LENNOX product dealer.
They had hired a salesman to help promote their business and create expansion. That was Tom Stritecky. The company continued
to grow in the constuction and replacement business of residential and light commercial.
Due to ill health, Pete Ackerman retired in 1990. Tom Stritecky became partners in the business with
Bob Ritter. Shortly after that time, Robert Ritter decided to fulfill his dream to become an elementary educator. In
1991, Tom Stritecky became President of Waterbury Heating & Cooling, Inc.
With the great local economy and a great staff, Waterbury became a major player in the Heating
and Air Conditioning new construction and replacement HVAC market. In 1995 they had purchased Weber Heating and in 2004
they purchased ClimateMasters Heating. With the arrival of these companies, it has given Waterbury Heating & Cooling,
Inc. strength in a client base. Waterbury's has always focused on quality products and service. We have always provided 24-
hour emergency service. We believe that if we provide service the rest will come!
By the way, there was never a "Mr. Waterbury"! The name came from the furnace they used to install in
the 1950's and the 1960's called the Waterbury Furnace. This was a very common installed furnace in the Sioux Falls
area. The Waterbury furnace was discontinued in 1962. They were purchased by a small heating and air conditioning manufacturer
in Minneapolis.......I think their name was.......
HONEYWELL!
Now you know the rest of the story!
