Generations of Excellence
1908
Using a single flatbed truck and 4 rows of bench seats, Frank Sr. launched what would later become Frank Martz Coach Company, transporting the local workers, coal miners and shoppers. A one-way fare from Wilkes-Barre Public Square to Plymouth would cost a total of 10 cents; 5 cents to get to Division Street in Wilkes-Barre from Public Square and 5 cents to continue to Plymouth. Fares of 5 cents remained into the 1960’s.
1910
After two years of operations, Frank Martz Sr. purchased his first bus. The chassis was purchased from the White Company, and the body from the Singer Sewing Company. This bus now has the distinction of being the oldest operating transit bus in the world, and resides on lease at the Hershey PA Museum of transportation.
1928
Business was booming for the new transportation company and an airline was added in 1928, the first airline in the area. The new airlines routes went from Newark, NJ to Stroudsburg, PA on to Wilkes-Barre continuing to Binghamton, NY and Buffalo, NY with their last stop in Chicago, IL. Each airplane and bus at this time also had a hostess, to ensure the passengers had the most enjoyable experience possible; especially since the drive from Wilkes-Barre to
1931
In 1931 the 239 Old River Road location was purchased with an additional terminal location on Public Square to handle the interstate bus routes to New York and Philadelphia. Stretching the length of a city block, the garage was capable of housing 42 motor coaches inside, a full service wash bay, tire storage, full maintenance facility with an inspection pit and also doubled as a car dealership for Rio Cars. The great depression demonstrated Frank Martz Sr.’s character and his determination to survive. After filing for bankruptcy and re-organizing, Frank Martz Sr. paid back 100% of his debts over the next 27 years with the help of his son Frank Martz Jr.
1935
Frank Sr. first introduced air conditioning to the buses. A large block of ice would be placed on the roof of the bus with a large fan blowing the cool air into the passenger section of the bus. Once the ice had melted, the air-conditioning was over. In 1937, air conditioning became a standard in motor coaches.
1936
On February 5th, 1936 in Chicago Illinois, Frank Martz joined forces with H.W Stewart of Burlington Transportation, A.E. Greenleaf of Missouri-Pacific Stages, A.T Williams of Safeway Line, Inc. and P.O. Dittmar of Santa Fe Trails Transportation Company to form the National Trailways organization. The Trailways organization helped smaller bus operators collaborate and compete against larger and more connected operators such as Greyhound Bus line. The organization was structured by brand uniformity and required safety and operational standards, so passengers could travel seamlessly cross-county by using the Trailways system. Today, the Trailways system collaboratively operates more than 10,000 for hire group transport vehicles, of which 2,000+ are over-the-road, full size motor coaches. Trailways travels over 20 million miles annually and celebrated their 85th anniversary on February 5th, 2021.
1936
Frank Martz Sr. and Fay had been blessed with two children of their own, Frank Martz Jr and Marjorie E. Martz. In 1936, after attending an Army/Navy football game, Frank Martz Sr. was stricken with pneumonia and passed away shortly thereafter. Frank Martz Jr., then a twenty-year-old sophomore at Duke University, left school and rushed home to Plymouth to take the helm of the company and keep if from the bank lawyers that were attempting wrestle control from the family in this time of crisis. At the same time Frank was battling lawyers for the company, the country was fighting in World War II. With the demand for troops all throughout the states, Martz helped provide transportation for troops on
1964
Before Frank Jr.’s passing in 1964, Frank Henry, grandson to Frank Martz Sr, had begun his role in the company. During the summertime, Frank Henry would work in the garage cleaning the buses after their daily runs and lend a helping hand wherever needed. Under the mentoring of Frank Martz Jr, Frank Henry learned all he could about the company and found his permanent role in the company’s future. At the time of Frank Martz Jr.’s death, the company was operating 32 buses out of 239 Old River Road, providing local transportation, intrastate and interstate
1972
In 1972, Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding area were hit with flood waters of hurricane Agnes, the costliest flood in United States history at the time. Due to the extensive damage caused by Agnes, the area lost many businesses and jobs that would take years to rebuild. This created a need for transportation to bring in outside support to rebuild, while also creating a need for those who lost their jobs to commute to outside areas for work. The demand to work in areas such as New York, Philadelphia and the Poconos, created daily line runs for the transportation company. Following the flood of 72’ Frank M Henry sold the transit runs, operated by White Transit, to the county of Luzerne, which is still operating today as Luzerne County Transportation authority. Retaining ownership over the charter and tour departments, the interstate runs and intrastate runs to Philadelphia, New York and Atlantic City, under the name of Frank Martz Coach Company, Frank M Henry refocused his attention to the company and its future.
1974
Over the next several years, Frank began to expand the company through acquisitions. Focusing on large populated areas that were within a day travel of Wilkes-Barre, Frank purchased Gold Line and Gray line sightseeing in Washington DC in 1974. This would serve as a major attraction for local high schools looking to take trips to the nation’s capital, along with many individuals living in Northeastern
1978
In 1978 the gaming industry made its way to Atlantic City NJ, bringing a new wave of attractions and casinos to the East Coast. With the opening of the first casino, Chalfonte-Haddon Hall, roughly 200 miles away, Frank began operating one bus a day to Atlantic City. Shortly thereafter Frank received a phone call from Stuart Perlman, who along with his
1980
In the early 1980’s Frank “Hank” Henry and Scott Henry, sons of Frank Henry, bought 9 super buses and began running high end trips exclusively to Atlantic City. These buses would sell for $800-$900 a day, 7 days a week for roughly 9 years traveling to Atlantic City. As more casinos began to open it other areas of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, the attraction to Atlantic City started to dwindle as did the demand to travel there. Continuing his expansion in 1983, Frank acquired Gulf Coast in Tampa and St. Petersburg, FL and National Coach Works in Fredericksburg, Va. This newest location would house a maintenance facility for all of the companies’ motor coaches in the surrounding area.
1985
In 1985 the Martz travel agency was established. This served as a full service global air and cruise travel agency for the Martz services. Continuing with expansion, in 1986 First Class Coach was acquired in St. Petersburg, FL, looking to help balance the slow winter month’s business in Pennsylvania. In 1988 Tourtime America was acquired in Richmond, VA not far from Washington DC and the other Martz locations. In 1984 Martz acquired Franklin Motorcoach in Virginia, solidifying the Martz presence on the East Coast. While Frank was the chairman of the company during this time of growth and expansion, he credits the Martz employees for their help to make the company a leader in the transportation industry. With another
2021
Martz has updated their fleet once again to stay at the forefront of comfort in the bus industry.