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From The Great Depression Into the 21st Century…
A Brief History of Eshenaurs Fuels, Inc.

When is the best time to start a new business? Well, for most people, it's after you have some money in the bank and the market is just right. But for Walter C. Eshenaur, Sr. it was 1928 - about one year before the Great Depression. His one man plumbing and heating operation named W. C. Eshenaurs began in his parents home at 1915 North St. in Harrisburg. The business not only survived 1929, but actually grew and prospered during the turbulent decade that followed.

In fact, within a couple of years, Walter Sr. was in his own home and had moved his thriving business to its brand new "headquarters" located in the family garage. He outgrew the garage, and in 1938 moved to 2838 Booser Ave. in Penbrook. By 1951, the business added the delivery of home heating oil to its already growing list of products and services at the Booser Ave. location.

In 1955, Walter Sr. incorporated as W. C. Eshenaurs Inc. and expanded again - adding small commercial accounts to the already sizable residential customer base. That same year, Walter also created a second company, Eshenaurs Inc., to handle industrial and large mechanical contracting jobs that were beyond the scope of his existing enterprise.

It was 1962 when the current name of Eshenaurs Fuels, Inc. was adopted. By then, Walter C. Eshenaur, Jr. was actively involved in the business and was on his way to taking the reigns of the company.

Today, Eshenaurs Fuels, Inc. has grown into a multi-million dollar corporation employing over 75 skilled technicians and office personnel. In addition to a residential client base numbering in the thousands, the company counts among it commercial accounts Giant Food Stores, Inc., Colonial Park Mall, Keystone Service Systems, Rothman, Schubert, and Reed Realtors, Harrisburg Housing, Harrisburg Parks and Recreation, and Karns Quality Food Stores.

In 1998, another Eshenaur was passed the company torch. Craig Eshenaur, Walt Jr.'s son, assumed control of the company.

Undoubtedly, the challenges will be many in the new millennium. If this new century brings the same kinds of obstacles and successes as the past one, Craig will certainly have his management skill tested to the max. Of course, that's been the case for every Eshenaur since Walter C. Eshenaur Sr. started the business - facing challenges over the decades and leaving behind a business better than the one he started with. Walter C. Eshenaur did it. Walter C. Eshenaur, Jr. did it. And Craig Eshenaur, like the two Eshenaurs before him, will do it, too. After all, it's a family tradition.