Hometown Manufacturing has been building a legacy of quality craftsmanship and innovation since 1903. It all began with Lewis Kiser, an inventor in Decatur, IL, who patented an air-compressed engine and later developed a chassis design in 1919. Decades later, in 1973, brothers Bruce and Neil Pence carried this legacy further by building custom truck camper toppers and horse trailers with luxe living quarters. In 1978, Bruce took the next big step by designing and building his first trolley bus under the family name Lazy N Inc.
As the company grew, the second generation of the Pence family brought new ideas and energy. In 1991, CEO Kristina incorporated Double K Inc. Over the years, the company evolved, launching the Hometown Trolley brand in 2002 with two signature models: the Villager and the Mainstreet.
Hometown Trolley’s reputation for durability and quality led to significant milestones, including successful performance testing at Penn State’s Altoona facilities, where both rear and front-engine models were evaluated for reliability. In 2018, with fresh, forward momentum, the Pence-Dunow family rebranded itself as Hometown Manufacturing to expand its reach beyond trolleys and introduced a new modern bus line.
Our company’s commitment to innovation continued with the electrification of the Villager and View models in 2020 and the development of a new heavy-duty, low-floor urban bus in 2021.
From our beginning with Lewis Kiser’s patents to creating cutting-edge electric vehicles, our story is one of adaptability and progress. Still based in Crandon, the company remains family-led and community-focused, delivering vehicles that stand the test of time. Hometown Manufacturing continues to honor our history while shaping the future of transit with every trolley and bus built.
