Stumbo Transportation - A Sesquicentennial Feature

In 1937, local businessman, Lorenzo (Jack) Stumbo had a trucking business serving the Ogden area. He had purchased three new Chevy trucks (two straight trucks and a semi) to haul grain, gravel  and livestock. An additional route involved picking up supplies and produce at the Ft. Dodge train station and delivering them to various “mom and pop” grocery stores throughout the area. Jack would also deliver coal from the local coal mines to private homes or businesses. Eventually, he rented a building for his trucking business from Frank Sherbring. It was conveniently located across the highway from the Stumbo residence (south of the current Casey’s store).

During World War II, with gas rationing and tires difficult to purchase, Jack was approached by local farm families and asked if he would be interested in driving their high school age students to Ogden for school. Jack agreed and purchased his first bus in 1941. This was the start of Stumbo Bus Service. The bus was a Dodge Brothers bus that had bench seats situated down the sides and a few that ran cross-wise in the middle. A few of the early riders were Curtis Blyth, Rose Bergland, Joan Erickson,  Paul Jensen, Rosalie Johnson, Avenelle Johnson, John Peterson and Dorothy Petersen.

By 1944, Jack increased his number of routes to include four buses. In 1945, he purchased the property where the current City Hall and Fire Station are located. This building was used as an office and shop for both the bus and trucking businesses. In 1947, Jack built a structure to the west of the shop/office to store the buses. Due to many country schools closing throughout the 1940-50’s, there was an increased need for bus routes as more and more children found themselves attending school in Ogden. He officially closed the trucking side of the business in 1956 and changed the name to Stumbo Transportation Company. He purchased the property to the east of the shop in the 1960’s and added three more bus stalls. The old Standard Gas Station across the street from his other property was purchased and converted into an office building. By the 1960’s, Stumbo Transportation operated ten bus routes. 

Read more in the Aug. 31 issue of The Ogden Reporter.