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In
July 1946, Robert T. Shafer Sr., read an advertisement in a local newspaper
requesting bids to operate a school bus route for the Union-Endicott Central
School District. At that time Mr. Shafer was operating a trucking service,
delivering sand, gravel, and coal in the local area. He was awarded the contract
and started operating the route in September 1947, with a used school bus he had
purchased.
In the years that followed, Mr. Shafer continued bidding on routes
offered by the Union-Endicott, Johnson City, and Binghamton City School
Districts. During this time Mr. Shafer's fleet of school buses grew to
twenty-one.
In the mid-1950's when New York State started regulating passenger
carriers, Mr. Shafer was granted intrastate authority to operate from Broome
County to any point in New York State. After the authority was granted, Robert
T. Shafer & Sons, Inc., purchased it's first inter-city charter bus.
In March 1960, Endicott-West Endicott Bus Lines was purchased. This
purchase included operating authority in the Village of Endicott, along with
four transit buses. Shortly after the purchase, Mr. Shafer petitioned New York
State for Authority to operate connecting service between Vestal, Vestal Center,
and Endicott.
In the late 1960's, with the school bus business operating twenty-eight
buses, Robert T. Shafer & Sons, Inc., purchased six inter-city charter
buses.
On January 6, 1970, Mr. Shafer purchased Southern Tier Stages, Inc. This
purchase provided interstate authority and added line service from Binghamton to
Owego, and Ithaca, New York, Binghamton, New York to Montrose, Pennsylvania, and
special operating authority between Binghamton and Pocono Downs racetrack in
Wilkes Barre, PA. Six additional inter-city buses were also acquired
as part of this purchase.
In 1971, all school bus business was being performed by Robert T. Shafer
& Sons, Inc., all intrastate service was performed by Endicott-West
Endicott, Inc., and all interstate service was performed by Southern Tier
Stages, Inc.
In 1977, all operating authorities were transferred from Robert T.
Shafer's & Sons, Inc., and Endicott-West Endicott, Inc., to Southern Tier
Stages, Inc.
In 1978, Robert T. Shafer, Sr. decided to retire and sold Southern Tier
Stages, Inc. to his sons, Robert T. Shafer Jr., and Larry A. Shafer Sr.
Today, Southern Tier Stages, Inc. ~ Shafer's Tour & Charter, is still a family owned business, with
interstate operations to forty-nine states and Canada. Southern Tier Stages
Inc., continues to perform school bus service for Union-Endicott, Vestal, and
Binghamton City School Districts.
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