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Historic Fire Marks

Insurance has a rich, unappreciated history.

Protecting you from fire for centuries.

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Insurance has a rich history that not many people know about. For centuries, as long as there have been homes, there was someone to protect them. Fire marks were a symbol of the early days of fire insurance protection.

The first insurance companies were formed in the 1700s, and they relied upon volunteer fire companies to put out fires in the homes or businesses they insured. Fire marks were mainly used to show which insurance company insured a building, allowing fire brigades to identify an insured building. Often, the first fire brigade to arrive on the scene would be rewarded by the insurance company. Fire marks were also used to discourage malicious arson since the owner would not suffer greatly if the building were destroyed.

Fire mark designs ranged from the very simple—just the company’s name—to the very elaborate—logos or designs used to represent the insurance company. Pictured below are replicas of the more famous fire marks and their known history.

About Our Agency - a Winding Road Hugs the Edge of a Mountain Overlooking the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, White Clouds Overhead and the Sun Shining on the Valley

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