In the late 1950’s a few gentlemen in Maine came up with the concept of providing school bus safety shelters for children, supported by local companies through advertising. This new business venture quickly spread throughout fifteen states, and started to offer franchises to individuals.

In 1961 my father, George Thorbahn, while working in the ad department at The Philadelphia Bulletin, noticed an advertisement about the opportunity to become a franchise owner. Naming his new business Interstate Shelter All, he quickly acquired the territories in the three-counties surrounding Philadelphia, the state of Delaware, and parts of eastern and western shores of Maryland.

Starting in Pennsylvania, my father began installing bus shelters, and after six months he found his first advertisers, Herrs Foods, R. M. Crossan, and Kaufman Gas. With the support of these businesses, and many to follow, the company quickly expanded!

In 1992, I joined the company, and started working along with my father, learning all aspects of the business. In 2001, forty years after installing his first school bus safety shelter, he was ready to retire allowing me to purchase the company, starting the second generation of Interstate Shelter All.

Today, we currently have over 362 advertising spaces in eleven counties, covering three states.

-G. Scott Thorbahn, Jr.