Search
 

When Insurers Were the Fire Service - History of Adjusting, Part 4

Did Mrs. OLearys cow really start the Chicago Fire? How notable events sparked the evolution of fire insurance and multi-line adjusting.

By Ken Brownlee, CPCU | Updated on March 10, 2014

On the wall of my office in Atlanta is a foot-long wooden shield on which are four leaden hands in the form of a firemen’s carry and the date “1752″ beneath them. In some office file drawer in Philadelphia is a document I signed many years ago, agreeing never to bring that shield into the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On the back of the wooden shield is stamped the words “Policy No.” The shield, with its leaden hands and date, represents an unissued fire insurance policy from the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insuring of Houses from Loss by Fire. 

That insurer was founded by Benjamin Franklin and other Philadelphia notables in 1752 as the first fire insurance company in America. In August of 1967 the first claim I ever settled as a new adjuster in Philadelphia was a dog bite claim under a homeowners’ policy issued by the Philadelphia Contributionship. As far as I know, the firm is still in business. How I came by the shield in the early 1970s while in Miami is another story, but the short version is that my brother was an insurance executive in Pennsylvania at the time.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free
PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader.

INCLUDED IN A DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP:

  • All PropertyCasualty360.com news coverage, best practices, and in-depth analysis.
  • Educational webcasts, resources from industry leaders, and informative newsletters.
  • Other award-winning websites including BenefitsPRO.com and ThinkAdvisor.com.

Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Recommended Stories

PropertyCasualty360

Join PropertyCasualty360

Don’t miss crucial news and insights you need to make informed decisions for your P&C insurance business. Join PropertyCasualty360.com now!

  • Unlimited access to PropertyCasualty360.com - your roadmap to thriving in a disrupted environment
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including BenefitsPRO.com, ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
  • Exclusive discounts on PropertyCasualty360, National Underwriter, Claims and ALM events

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join PropertyCasualty360

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.