The Philadelphia Contributionship
The Philadelphia Contributionship Digital Archives

The Philadelphia
Contributionship
Digital Archives

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Timeline

1751  

Union Fire Company members request Benjamin Franklin & Philip Syng to meet with other fire company representatives to discuss matters to benefit the city’s inhabitants.
 

1752  

February 4, 1752 Pennsylvania Gazette announces a meeting of subscribers to the articles of insurance to determine how to execute them on the following Saturday.

February 18, 1752 Pennsylvania Gazette invites all interested in subscribing to the articles of insurance to call at the Court House on Saturday afternoons until April 13.

April 13, first organizational meeting of The Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire.

May 11, first meeting of directors.

May 20, Hugh Roberts asked to order fire marks from John Stow.

June, surveying of prospective properties began  Office advertised as being kept by Joseph Saunders, in Water Street. 

June 2, first policy approved; insurance to take effect June 26.
 

1753  

First fire loss.
 

1754  

Directors’ fines paid for buckets for city’s watch houses. 
 

1755  

After fire at Edward Shippen’s house, directors ordered fire marks to be put up on all insured properties.
 

1761  

Survey completed on Pennsylvania Hospital; first institutional policyholder.
 

1763  

Establishment of common account for interest moneys to be used for office expenses and losses.
 

1764  

Placed milestones at mile intervals along the northern road leading to Trenton, 2 more were placed along the road leading to New York from fines collected from absent or tardy directors.
 

1765  

Placed milestones along the southern route to New Castle, within Pennsylvania border.
 

1768  

Incorporation granted by the Pennsylvania Assembly.
 

1769  

Incorporation confirmed by the Court of St. James.

Ban on insurance of wooden buildings.
 

1777  

Paid Anthony Hill to sweep out chimneys in houses where soldiers were quartered.
 

1784  

Policyholders voted against insuring houses with trees in front.
 

1793  

Meetings deferred for several months because of yellow fever epidemic.
 

1795  

Worked with other insurance companies to petition city to ban wooden buildings in heavily occupied sections of city.
 

1806  

Joined with other insurance companies in making donations to city’s fire companies.
 

1810  

Act of Incorporation & Deed of Settlement amended. Policies converted to perpetual coverage; ban on trees dropped.
 

1823  

Additional deposit for trees dropped.
 

1835  

Purchased property at 212 S. Fourth Street, 96 S. Fourth St. 

Commissioned Thomas U. Walter to design and build office.
 

1836  

New office completed.

Changes in Deed of Settlement permit company to write insurance throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
 

1839  

Major fire at Front and Water Streets, 52 buildings destroyed, 2 members of Good Will Fire Company killed.
 

1850  

Major fire destroyed 354 buildings in the area between the Delaware River and Second Street and from New Street to Callowhill Street.
 

1866  

Marble portico replaced on building, curved marble railings and mansard roof added.
 

1894  

Raid on company.
 

1895  

Company adopted policy of paying dividends; first dividend paid 1897.
 

1903  

Company reintroduced fire marks at the request of policyholders.
 

1909  

Insuring of garages housing automobiles approved (allowed briefly in 1905, then repealed until 1909).
 

1915  

Company purchased an automobile. 
 

1918  

Purchased adjoining properties: 210 and 216 S. Fourth Street.
 

1919  

Company purchased a car for surveyor, Burton Blair.
 

1930  

Renovated 212 S. Fourth St; staff moved to 216 S. Fourth Street during repairs.

New garden plan implemented.
 

1931  

Smoke damage protection added to standard policy.
 

1948  

Extended coverage endorsements offered to policyholders; protection against windstorm, hail, explosion, riot, civil commotion, aircraft, vehicles and smoke.
 

1950  

Company lost its brick stable at the rear of the property as the National Park Service increases park space.  A footprint of the foundation can be seen in the adjacent DAR Rose Garden.
 

1952  

Company celebrated its 200th anniversary and publishes its history: A Philadelphia Story by Nicholas Wainwright.
 

1956  

Purchased properties 218-224 S. Fourth Street.
 

1960  

Formed subsidiary company to write term homeowners insurance: The Philadelphia Contributionship Insurance Company.
 

1964  

Purchased 208 S. Fourth Street.
 

1969  

Major restoration of 212 S. Fourth Street; company moved to 218-220 S. Fourth Street for duration.
 

1979  

212 S. Fourth Street declared a National Historic Landmark.
 

1982  

Beginnings of company’s involvement with home security industry.
 

1983  

First perpetual homeowners policy written.
 

1986  

Acquisition of Germantown Insurance Company.
 

1987-88  

Built addition to 208 S. Fourth Street.
 

1991  

PC Security changed its trade name to Vector Security.
 

1993  

Franklin Agency opened.
 

2002  

Company celebrated its 250th anniversary.
 

2009  

Establishment of The Philadelphia Contributionship Mutual Holding Company.
 

2011  

PCIC admitted to write property and casualty insurance in Delaware.
 

2013  

PCIC admitted to write property and casualty insurance in Maryland.