Whitesel Brothers, Inc 1880-2006

           Four years earlier (1876) Mr. Earman, who lived in the Freidens church area contacted Mr. Simon Whitesel (grandfather of Frank Whitesel), who lived in the Pleasant Valley area, to ask if he had a son who would work for him and learn the business. Mr. Whitesel recommended his son, H. N. Whitesel (father of Frank Whitesel) who eagerly accepted the job. The business grew and prospered and in two more years Mr. Earman again asked if Mr. Whitesel had another son who might be interested in learning the business. On Mr. Whitesel's recommendation, his younger son, J. D. Whitesel, joined his brother in the Earman firm in 1878.

           After taking over from Mr. Earman, the Whitesel firm located their new business on East Market Street and traded under the name of H. N. Whitesel and Brother. In addition to horse-drawn farm implements; buggies, harnesses, lumber and fertilizer were sold. The brothers also operated a farm on the Kratzer road north of Harrisonburg.

           In 1909, at the death of his father, Frank Whitesel, then nineteen, joined his uncle in the Whitesel firm. In 1912, due to the declining health of J. D. Whitesel, the firm was sold to W. H. Cunningham and Son, with Frank Whitesel joining the Cunningham firm as a stockholder and junior partner. A few years later another local young man, J. O. Stickley, joined the firm.

           From 1922 to 1925, after the death of Mr. Cunningham, the business was operated by Frank Whitesel and J. O. Stickley for the Cunningham estate. In 1925 when the estate was settled, J. O. Stickley purchased the Cunningham business. Frank Whitesel sold his interest in the company and bought out the stock of C. A. Sprinkle and Son (a firm older than either the Cunningham or Whitesel firms). Frank Whitesel located his business in a building on Main Street, under the name of Frank Whitesel and Company. A few years later, looking for more space, the business moved one block west to what was then known as the Tannery building. The Tannery building was torn down to provide additional space for the Municipal Parking Lot. While at this location the business operated under the name of Whitesel-Sinton Company.

          Over a one hundred twenty-five year period, practically all businesses will have their ups and downs, and the Whitesel firm is no exception . The most trying time accrued during the depression of the early thirties, and "Mr. Frank" referred to this era as "the time when you had to look up to see the bottom." Most farmers had no money to buy farm machinery and were unable to pay past obligations. Between 1931 and 1937 the red ink flowed freely on the Whitesel books.

          In order to save the business and keep its help employed, the firm decided to enter the lumber business as a side line. A tract of timber was contracted for in Highland County and a stave mill  and two large trucks were purchased, Oak barrel staves were cut and delivered to Baltimore and four thousand locust posts were delivered to the Walter P. Chrysler farm at Warrenton.

         Over the years Whitesel Brothers experienced much growth and many changes. In 1938 Frank Whitesel and his brother Lynwood bought a lot next to the Farm Bureau on Grace Street and built a store. Business continued on and in 1951 Whitesel Brothers became incorporated and the ownership was made up of key employees.

         During the 1950's J. Wilson Lee became both the Secretary-Treasurer of the corporation and the General Manager. Under J. Wilson Lee, Whitesel Brothers sold Oliver tractors and implements. Oliver was strong for many years but then began its decline and Whitesel Brother began to increase their diversification by adding  additional equipment lines. Gehl was added in 1955, Bush Hog in 1957, and Surge in 1963.

         Seeing into the future and the need for continued diversification, Whitesel's added the "egg building" which was purchased from Rockingham Cooperative Farm Bureau in 1972. Also purchased was a lot on route 42, north of Harrisonburg which was intended for future expansion.

         Whitesel Brothers continued to grow and in 1987 the reigns of management passed from J. Wilson Lee to Jeff Germroth and Jeff became only the fourth General Manager in the company's entire history. Under Jeff's guidance, Whitesel's continued to expand and in 1995 when Hevener Equipment Company closed, Whitesel Brothers acquired the John Deere line of equipment and opened a second location at 700 West Market Street in Harrisonburg.

          In 1999 Whitesel Brothers expanded even more when they went into partnership with Joseph Bowman to form Whitesel Brothers LLC, a full service dealership for sales, parts and service, in Woodstock Virginia. Also in 1999, at the recommendation of a customer, Whitesel Brothers purchased 10 acres at the corner of Garbers Church Road and Erickson Avenue in Harrisonburg from William and Charles Wampler. A building was constructed and both Harrisonburg stores were combined into one location where they continue to operate and look for more innovative ways of serving their customers in the best way possible.