The History of ROAN Inc.

When Robert W. Roan Sr., also known as ‘Bob’ or ‘RW’, was peddling furniture and antiques from Pennsylvania to Florida and back he surely had no idea that his family would be carrying on the auction tradition four generations later.

Bob and his wife Sylvia raised five sons and a daughter during their marriage which ended only when Bob passed away in 1969. Sylvia would survive him by 27 years. Each of their children at one time was involved in the auction business.

ROAN Inc. is celebrating 79 years in a business that began with Bob buying and selling antiques and used furniture items. He and Sylvia had a shop on the site where the current auction hall sits today, but at one time had a store on Walnut Street in Williamsport as well as one in Ralston. The family no longer operates any shops but sells at auction on a consignment basis.

In 1963 Rich and Chuck bought the business from their father and incorporated it as Bob, Chuck & Rich Roan Inc. Chuck retired in 1989. Rich and his wife Kate have raised four sons and a daughter, all of whom have been part of the business with just three sons and their daughter still active.

Since Rich’s passing in 2017, two of his sons, Ron and Rod, head the family business. Their niece, Amanda Roan Covert, is a fourth-generation member of the company who assists in the Real Estate division, advertising and sale set-up. Their sister, Robin Roan Pardoe, serves as the office manager and book keeper for the company. Older brother Randy assists part-time with handling the Firearms auctions and auctioneering.

ROAN Inc. is the ORIGINAL ROAN Auction firm and is experienced and capable of handling all your auction needs. ROAN Inc. specializes in selling Real Estate of all manner including Land, Farms, Residential and Commercial Properties including 11 schools, 3 Quarries, Restaurants/Bars and Liquor Licenses, in three states and 22 Pennsylvania counties. ROAN Inc. is not to be confused or affiliated with Michael T Roan AKA ‘Roan Real Estate’.

A few of the things Roan Inc. has been recognized for include selling more ‘Severin Roesen’ paintings than any other auction house (Roesen once resided and painted in nearby Williamsport in the 1800s); holding a record for the highest amount realized at auction for the ‘Jonah & The Whale’ on a pedestal mechanical bank; selling the home and contents of the Betty James Estate – company owner of the Slinky toy and numerous other important estates and specialty collection. They’ve also continued local recognition for being voted the areas Best Auctioneer.

Roan Inc. specializes in Real Estate, Estates, Firearms and Specialty Collections as well as continuing the tradition of their Annual Pre-Memorial Day and Pre-Christmas Auctions.

We Proudly Support Our Community and Local Organizations

In the summer of 2017, our family was honored by the Hepburn Lycoming Little League for Rich’s lifelong support of local Little League which we proudly continue to support.

Roan Inc. has been a proud Hepburn Lycoming Little League team sponsor since 1963.