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The
History Behind Lischkge Motors |
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Lischkge Motors' success today
reflects the experience, hard
work and commitment to the
customer-foundations placed
by Clayton W. Lischkge and
wife Jesalena.
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Clayton, a
German descendent, was born and
raised on Decatur St. along the
Ohio River in Aurora, Ind. He
was an apprentice mechanic a s a
young man, working for little or
no pay in exchange for learning
the trade. In June of 1924,
Clayton married Jesalena Rogers.
In August he leased a building
on Second St. in, Aurora
starting his own business. "All
Repair Work Must Give
Satisfaction" was his prevailing
business philosophy. He repaired
a variety of vehicles, including
the town of Aurora's fire truck,
and Southern Indiana Telephone
Co.'s AB Mack, nicknamed "Macksine." |
Perseverance in harsh business
conditions helped the Lischkges
to survive the Great Depression
and floods. Clayton's frugality
kept the doors open. Jesalena
says, "Even when there wasn't
any work, Clayton paid his help
with the money he had saved."
With the depression ending, the
Lischkges purchased a horse
livery on Judiciary St. in
Aurora, completely refurbished
the building and moved the
business there in 1933. The
legendary flood of the Ohio
River in 1937 completely covered
the town of Aurora, and its
crest put the water level at 7
feet on the Lischkge's second
floor. Undaunted, Clayton became
an authorized Mack Truck
distributor in 1938. |
The
company and the Ohio River
Valley prospered in the years
prior to World War II. "During
the war, everybody needed trucks
but nobody could get them," says
Clayton's son, Bobby. "Daddy had
one truck. Roadway couldn't
purchase it; nobody could. They
didn't have high enough
priority. The eventual purchaser
of Daddy's truck was a lumber
mill in Ripley County. They had
the highest priority. They made
gun stocks for the army!" After
serving in World War 11, Bobby
joined the company in 1946.
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In 1964, when
the Ohio River flooded four
times, Clayton and Bobby said
they'd had enough, and Lischkge
Motors moved to higher ground.
The company purchased the Round
Barn on US 50 in Aurora, which
is its current place of
business. Built in 1901, the
structure is 100 feet high and
100 feet across, making it the
largest round barn in the State
of Indiana. It took the
Lischkges two years to convert
the wooden structure to concrete
block and steel. The Lischkge's
engineering feat defied critics
who said that it couldn't be
done and astounded professional
engineers who viewed the final
result. The building is now a
preserved historic landmark as
well as a thriving business,
which operates as a full-service
Mack Truck facility employing 20
people.
Both
Clayton and Jesalena retired in
1974, after Jesalena had been
the company's bookkeeper for 50
years and Clayton had devoted
half a century to the business.
Clayton passed away in 1983. The
foundation set by Clayton and
Jesalena helped the company
survive the record-breaking
prime rates, which peaked at
more than 20 percent in the
early 1980s.
The
company has received numerous
awards through the years in New
Truck Sales, and Outstanding
Parts Sales. In 1998, the Lischkge family, company
employees, friends and customers
celebrated 60 years as an
authorized Mack Truck
Distributor, making Lischkge
Motors the third oldest Mack
Truck distributor in the world
today.
Lischkge Motors is still family
owned and operated, with Bobby
devoting 40 years of service
along side his father and
assuming the leadership with his
wife, Tessie, over the
past 30 years. A third
generation has been added with
Bobby and Tessie's son, Robert
as the service manger, and Lori
as the sales manger. Clayton's
philosophy of 80 years ago
continues to guide Lischkge
Motors today and tomorrow: "Our
service must give satisfaction." |
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Right: The
Lischkge Family:
In Front, Jesalena Lischkge;
Back Row:Left to Right,
Robert Lischkge,
Lori Lischlcge,
Tessie and Bobby Lischkge) |
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Right: At the
Farmer’s Fair, 1926,
(L to R) Earl Lischkge,
William Lischkge (Clayton’s Farther),
Carl Mattox (in wrecker),
J. Wilber (Bookkeeper),
and Clayton Lischkge. |
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Lischkge Motors, Inc. Thanks Employees,
Customers,
Suppliers and Friends for Their Support
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