Florida may seem like an unlikely place to make a living cleaning chimneys, but between the fireplaces in restored 1920s bungalows and the ones in newer suburban homes, there’s plenty of business for Chimney Sweep of Florida’s Robert Westerfield Jr. Unlike other chimney sweeps in the area, who wear overalls or a corporate uniform, Westerfield comes to your door in the traditional 19th-century chimney sweep outfit: a wool pea coat and 8-inch top hat. But he’s not just there for show; typically, Westerfield can spiff up a chimney, educate you on proper lighting techniques and clean up his mess within 10 minutes. But ask about his passion for crafting metal armor and it might take a little longer.
