Eisenhour Motor Sales, Inc. is a three-generation family-owned vehicle dealership with a rich history. It began in 1924 with Walter Eisenhour and Fred Smith working for B.R. Jimison selling Willys-Overland products in the building that now houses EMS. They soon struck out on their own and were quickly selling and fixing Pontiacs, Oaklands, and Chevrolets. These were purchased for resale from local dealers. Customers often paid in cash and occasionally traded in a horse or two.
Walter and Fred were offered the direct franchise agreement with Chevrolet in 1930, and therefore dropped selling the Pontiac and Oakland lines. During the depression years, the local bank was closed, and they had to carry cash to purchase their inventory. Back then, they had to travel to Flint, Michigan to pick up their inventory - and they had to bring help to drive their purchases homes. No haul-aways were dropping product off at their front door!
In 1935, they purchased the building that presently holds the business and hired two mechanics, their first employees.
When the war years hit, two of the men were sent to war. Walter and the remaining employee ran the business. There were no cars to sell, as the factory was working in military production. Being the ever-enterprising man that he was, Walter started banging out dents and painting cars - the beginning of the body shop!
In 1950, Walter went out on his own, and the name was changed to Eisenhour Motor Sales. Walter's son, Jack, became part of the business and in 1959 they became incorporated. They added a used car lot across the street and a body repair shop down the street.
In 1966, Jack became the principle dealer and Walter started working less when Jack's son, Brian, began working weekends and summers. They bought more land for the used vehicle lot, sold the body shop, and added computers. Walter died in 1991 and Brian joined the business as the Vice President.
