E.M. Ford returns to downtown after 35 years

September 11, 2018 | 4:02 am

Updated September 11, 2018 | 6:01 am

Graphic by Owensboro Times

E.M. Ford, which was founded in 1925, has been located at 2100 Frederica Street for the last 35 years. The independent insurance agency was previously located at a number of downtown locations, including the Odd Fellow building and Masonic building. As of February 2019, E.M. Ford will be returning to downtown, this time to a newly renovated space at 600 Frederica Street.

“We are excited for the reason we have to relocate but sad to leave this house,” said Clay Ford, partner and Financial Services and Employee Benefits Manager.

The house, which has been in the Ford family since they relocated their business in 1983, is not enough space for the growing business, according to Ford. With 30 employees in the Owensboro location and 5,500 sq. ft. of usable space, it was time to move. The new headquarters will offer E.M. Ford 15,000 sq. ft., but Ford says they plan to lease out some of that space.

The fate of the historic home, built in the late 1920s, is still unknown says Ford. He says the family hopes to keep the home and lease it to another organization, it is just a matter of finding the right tenant.

Photo by AP Imagery

Ford says that no matter what happens, he hopes that the famous sassafras tree, located on the front of the E.M. Ford property, will be protected.

“That tree is special to us,” Ford said. “The tree is over 350 years old and we have been told it’s the oldest living thing in Kentucky. That’s pretty special to have in Owensboro.”

September 11, 2018 | 4:02 am

Share this Article

Other articles you may like