Historic Firemarks

We have placed Fire Marks through this sight to learn the history of a Fire Mark. Click on the Fire Mark Page listings at the bottom of this page for all the Fire Marks and their individual histories.

The first insurance companies that were formed in the 1700s relied upon volunteer fire companies to put out fires in the homes or businesses they insured. The first marks they insured were used to discourage malicious arson by showing that the owner would not greatly suffer if the building were destroyed and to guarantee fire brigades that the insurance company which insured the building in question would reward them for extinguishing the blaze. Fire Mark designs ranged from the very simple- just the company's name -to the very elaborate. Pictured are replicas of the better know fire marks and their known history.

	1752 - The Oldest fire mark in the U.S., issued in 1752 by the Philadelphia Contributorship of the insurance of house from Loss and Fire. Modeled after an issue of the Amicable Contributorship of London.
	1794 - Repica of the first Mark of the Bailimore Equitable Society issued in 1794.
	Reliance - Dramatic silver on burgundy "R" issued in 1841, denotes the Reliance Co. Of Philadelphia.
	Hands - The oldest fire mark in the U.S., issued in 1752 by the Philadelphia Contributorship for the insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire was cast by john Stow, who later recast the Liberty Bell, Ben Franklin wasone of its charter members.
	U.F. Fireman - One of the first steam powered fire engines ever used - made by Reaney and Neafie of Philadelphia-is depicted on this 1860 fire mark of the United fireman's Insurance Co. of Philadelphia.
	Bird-in-Hand - A unique 1804 mark of the Philadelphia Insurance Co.
	Eagle Hose No. 2 - A "fake" based loosely on the eagle fire mark design of the Insurance Co. of North America during the period 1790-1880. The originals are very rare.
	U.F.I.C - A 1870 issue of the Union Fire Insurance Co. of Nashville, the first new underwriter in Tennessee after the Civil War.
	Germantown Mutual - A hand-in-hand symbol 1843 issue of Germantown Mutual Fire Insurance Co.
	F&A Hose - In 1817, several volunteer fire companies in Philadelphia formed the Fire Association which, after attempts by established insurance companies to prevent organized competition, received a charter in 1820. An original still remains in Independence Hall.
	Puerto Rico - This symbol of the Puerto Rico Fire and Causality Co. was issued shortly after the company was established in 1965.
	Fireman - This fireman, depicted in 1848 by Associated fireman's Insurance Co. of Baltimore, holds a speaking trumper to issue firefighting orders to his mates. (Very Rare)
	Associated Fireman's - This very rare 1851 issue of Associated Fireman's Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh depicts a fireman with hand trumpet and hydrant wrench.
	F.I Engine - Hand operated pumper (that required 30 men to pump less than two gallons of water per stroke) is depicted on this 1835 fire mark of the Fire Insurance Co. of Baltimore. Insureds were charged $1.25 for it, replacements were free, and the mark- largest of its kind in America-had to be returned to the company when the policy was discontinued.
	Valiant Hose No. 2 - Probably never an actual fire mark, this colorful design based on the Currier and Ives print, "Rushing to the conflict,"was found on an old house in the East early in the century.
	U.F. Fireman - One of the first steam powered fire engines ever used - made by Reaney and Neafie of Philadelphia-is depicted on this 1860 fire mark of the United fireman's Insurance Co. of Philadelphia.
	Lorillard - Volunteer fireman in Yew York City formed the Lorillard Fire Insurance Co. in 1853, choosing this brass fire mark as its emblem. Cornelius V. Anderson, later Chief Engineer of the N.Y. Fire Department, was its first president.
	U.F.I.C - A 1870 issue of the Union Fire Insurance Co. of Nashville, the first new underwriter in Tennessee after the Civil War.
	Sunburst - There is no known history on this mark.
	Star - One of the rarest of the early fire marks, the six pointed star mark preceded the eagle design later used by the Insurance Co. of North America. First issued in 1794 and believed completely"extinct." this mark was found, after a long and intensive search, on a building in the outskirts of Baltimore.
	Preferred Mutual - A new fire mark of Preferred Mutual Insurance Co. New Berlin, New York, portraying the company's slogan "the Best is Always Preferred" by use of several symbols; The eagle, our national symbol of strength, is an adaptation of the phoenix, symbolic of rebirth or building after destruction.
	Green Tree - Evolution of the original tree mark issued by the Mutual Assurance of Philadelphia around 1827. The tree symbolizes the Company's willingness to insure buildings located near trees, not a common practice of the day.
	Hartford - A rectangular design in gold on black cast iron of the Hartford Insurance Co.
	Hope Mutual - This 1854-60 anchor design symbolizes Hope Mutual Insurance Co. of St. Louis, Missouri.
	Home Mutual - This 1899 hand in hand symbol of Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Co. of St. Louis, Missouri was cast in zinc.
	Lorillard - Volunteer fireman in New York City formed the Lorillard Fire Insurance Co. in 1853, choosing a brass fire mark as it's emblem. Cornelius V. Anderson, later Chief Engineer of the N.Y. Fire Department, was it's first president.
	Logs - Monogram of Lumberman's insurance Co. of Philadelphia, which began operations in 1873 when paid fire departments were first beginning to function.
	Royal - A regal-looking shield was issued by Royal Insurance Co. in 1845.
	Pennsylvania Insurance Co. - One of the smallest (and brightest) of the fire marks, issued by Pennsylvania Insurance Co.
	New Castle - An 1849 mark of the New Castle Mutual Insurance Co.
	Tree - Because of Ben Franklin's theory that trees attracted lightening, causing fires to spread and hampered fire fighting equipment, insurance companies used to refuse to issue policies for buildings surrounded by trees. The tree fire mark, issued in 1784 by the 40 members of the Philadelphia Contributorship which split off and formed the Mutual Assurance of Philadelphia symbolized their opposition to the accepted belief of the day.
	Sun - Fire mark of unknown origin indicated the policy number on small plaque at the botto