Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 128, Number 43, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 27 October 2005 — Page 7

Henschen Oil—a long lasting business

By Anthony Godson f Editor When starting a business, it's always good to sell something that won't go out of style, in order to keep it afloat. In 1936, Virgil Henschen found that selling bulk petrole-

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ADVANCE NEWS PHOTO/ANTHONY GADSON The Henschen family has been operating Henschen Oil, Inc. for the past 69 years in the area, garnering a Half Century Business Award by the state. Outside of the business at State Road 19 and County Road 50 ale owner Gene Henschen (left) and his son, and general manager Rob Henschen.

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um was an avenue he'd -like to travel on, and 69 years later, Henschen Oil is as strong as even To mark the longevity of the business, the Nappanee Chamber of Commerce nominated Henschen Oil for the 2005

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Community

Governor's Half Century Business Award, which it will be awarded on Nov. 9 in Indianapolis. "Nappanee's had six businesses win the award over the years," Nappanee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Larry Andrews said. "(The award) is something the state does to honor businesses that stay in communities for a long time." Henschen Oil joins John's Butcher Shop, Newcomer E. & Son Jewelers, McCormick Motors, Pletcher Furniture, Vitco and Clipp Auto Supply as Nappanee Half Century Business Award winners. "I think its great for a business to exist over 50 years," Henschen Oil owner Gene Henschen said. "We've actually been in business for 69 years, since my dad started it. It's great to be honored." Henschen Oil is very much Nappanee and Wakarusa, in that it is a family business. Virgil began the business in Wakarusa in 1936, Gene opened it up to the Nappanee area when he joined in 1962, and now, Gene's son, Rob, works as general manager. "When Rob was growing up, he'd say, 'l'm not going back to Nappanee, I'm going to go the big cities.'," Gene said with a smile. "And he did, but after a year or two, he wanted to get into the family business." Unlike his son, while Gene was growing up, he never had any other aspiration outside of taking over his father's business. "For me, I remember riding in the trucks with my dad, and it was something I always wanted to do," he said. Virgil is now 92 years old, and according to Gene, "still in

fairly good health." Virgil entrusted his business to his son, and now Gene is doing the same with his heir. "Rob is the general manager, and actually runs the business," he said. "My wife and I spend a lot of time in Florida." Since arriving in 1962, Gene has seen the business grow from solely a bulk petroleum distributor to a convenience store chain, then back to a bulk petroleum distributor. "At one time, we had 12 convenience stores," Gene said. "In 1999, we had a large company offer to buy all 12, and we did it." Once again, Henschen Oil is back delivering fuel to farms, as well as providing oil for home heating, something that isn't as common as it once was. "In 1936, home heating really began to grow,'"' Gene said. "In 1962, home heating was the big business. Now there's not many people using oil for home heating." What he has seen increase in time, is the same all of us has seen increase gas prices. "I can remember when gas was 25 cents and home heating was 13 cents a gallon," he said. "Now, gas is $2.65 and heatingoilis $3.10." After being in the business for 43 years, it was only recently that he saw the biggest jump in gas prices from one day to the next. That was in the days following Hurricane Katrina. "It jumped 46 cents that day," he said. After all this time, the Henschen family doesn't seem to be going anywhere. "Business from the community has been good for Henschen Oil," Gene said. "I just hope Henschen Oil has been as good for the community."

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Advance News • Thursday, October 27. 2005

Nostalgia

Compiled by Margaret England-Neff <l2O-50 Years) and Anthony Gad son (25-15 Years) 120 Years Ago Oct. 22,1885 • The Union Twp. Library has been placed in charge of Mr. Benjamin Frazier. There are 350 volumes in the collection, mostly history, poetry, and the sciences. They are kept at his residence. • Cornelius Wisler and his wife and old father Wisler returned from their visit to Kansas last week and the wife of Jacob Wisler who want along took sick with typhoid fever while there. 100 Years Ago Oct. 25,1904 "The Winning Hand", a beautiful, bright, sparkling comedydrama with strong heart interest, pathos, and a wealth of fun and mirth is playing at the Auditorium October 25. 75 Years Ago Oct. 23,1930 Mr. and Mrs. Chester Walters attended the National Banking Assoc, during the past week at Cleveland, Ohio and had the pleasure of hearing Pres. Hoover on Thursday and the U S. Naval Band. 8,000 bankers were in attendance. 50 Years Ago Oct. 27,1955 Nappanee Bulldogs football team closed their most successful season Friday with a 25-0 triumph over Garret. Jerry Reed and Jan Brunso carried the load up front with Phil Lehman, John Stahly and Ed Berger at Guard. . . also helping at tackle were Ken Stump and Warren Brock. 25 Years Ago Oct. 22,1980 Steve Blosser and his attorneys have turned down the Nappanee Aviation Commission's $30,000 offer for purchase of a T-hangar and maintenance building at the Nappanee Municipal Airport. At Monday's meeting of the commission, members learned that Blosser did not feel the offer was enough it was half the appraisal figure for the buildipgs. Blosser intends to offer the buildings for sale privately. 15 Years Ago Oct. 17,1990 The future of the Wa-Nee School Corporation was the main topic of conversation at Monday night's session of the board of school trustees held in the auditorium at North Wood High School. Approximately 75 persons were in attendance, including school board members, administrators and faculty, as well as Wa-Nee patrons. Supt. Jerry Lelle presented the "Mission Statement for Wa-Nee Community Schools," as developed by the school board, administration, teachers and patrons last fall. He said, "To this end, the Board of School Trustees is developing a comprehensive plan designed specifically to meet Wa-Nee's facility needs."

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