WESTMINSTER, MD
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HUNT VALLEY, MD
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ELDERSBURG, MD
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NORTH WALES, PA
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HANOVER, PA
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Company History |
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1940 |
In the early 1940s Ray F. Finch of Syracuse, New York was appointed by John
Deere Company to become the General Manager of a new John Deere regional branch
house in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to Ray F. Finch’s General Manager
position in Baltimore, he held the position of Vice President of the John Deere
Plow Company.
In 1945 with the help of Ray Finch, his son Alvah and his wife, Catherine
O'Brien Finch, the first John Deere Dealership was established. The first
dealership was located in the Grange hall at Medford, Maryland on Route 31 west
of Westminster. Along with John Deere Farm equipment, surge milkers, appliances
and other house hold items were sold. |
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1950 |
In 1952, the Medford dealership relocated to John Street in Westminster,
Maryland. At that time, household appliances were deleted and the focus became
the sales and service of farm equipment. Three years later, after completing
service in the U.S. Air Force, William O'Brien Finch returned to the family
business. It was his leadership, energy and foresight that initiated the Finch
Companies' corporate growth in the next several decades. |
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1960 |
The John Deere Company began manufacturing and marketing lawn and garden
equipment in 1962. These products quickly became an integral part of Finch
Services.
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1970 |
Expansion continued in 1974 when the John Deere agricultural contract for
Hanover, Pennsylvania became available. Finch Services - Hanover was established
and continued to market strictly agricultural products for the next 14 years. |
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1980 |
In September 1981, Finch Services - Westminster located on Route 97, Littlestown
Pike in Westminster, Maryland became the corporate headquarters.
Opportunities to expand in 1987 continued with John Deere's introduction of golf
course and specialized turf maintenance equipment. Finch Services began
promoting sales to golf courses, commercial and government agencies in a six
state area. |
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1990 |
Finch Services - Eldersburg opened for operation in June 1990. This facility
focused on servicing the residential and commercial lawn and garden markets in
southern Carroll County, Howard County and western Baltimore County.
Through the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Finch Companies' corporate growth
was enhanced by the addition of multiple other major product lines and business
diversifications.
In 1989 Finch Services - Hanover began to market Kubota's full line of equipment
and eventually exited in 2008 to concentrate on John Deere's Compact Utility
Tractor product line.
In 1991, a full line of rental equipment was purchased and Finch Hanover
expanded into the rental business and became a dealer for many construction
products.
In 1993, the Finch Companies continued it's diversification with the addition on
Honda power equipment products in all three of the retail operations:
Westminster, Hanover and Eldersburg. In the same year, Finch Services-Hanover
added Melroe Bobcat Skid Loaders and Excavator lines.
In 1995, Finch Services - Hanover added the Cub Cadet product line and Cub was
later added to the Eldersburg facility. In 1990, the government and turf markets
warranted opening a facility in eastern Pennsylvania just outside Philadelphia.
This facility markets to central and eastern Pennsylvania and south-central New
Jersey. |
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2000 |
Beginning in 1998 and through 2009, Finch opened and operated a Golf and Turf
branch office in North Huntingdon, PA, just outside of Pittsburgh. The company
closed this facility in western Pennsylvania deciding to concentrate its Turf
efforts in the central and eastern of the commonwealth.
In January 2005, Finch Services purchased a John Deere consumer, commercial, and
hardware dealership in Hanover, Pennsylvania. The Hanover location now markets
outdoor power equipment, agricultural and light industrial products as well as
appliances and several hearth product lines.
In 2008 the company purchased the John Deere consumer and commercial dealership
in Cockeysville, Maryland. That facility was subsequently moved to its present
location on York Road in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Along with a robust homeowner
market and expansion of our Hearth product offering, the Hunt Valley facility's
primary focus rests in the light industrial and commercial equipment markets. |
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Today |
Today Finch Services continues to add, remove and service product lines as
needed depending on local market conditions.
In January 2006, the various companies reorganized into two divisions; Finch
Services, Inc. and Finch Services - Hanover Rental with the following Corporate
Officers:
Ray Finch - President
Dann Finch - Vice President
Brad Finch - Secretary and Treasurer
The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has blessed the Finch Family with a dynamic
group of co-workers and a talented management team which have enabled the
corporations to experience many successes and achievements. To our past and
present co-workers, we are forever grateful.
The Finch Family |
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