Philadelphia Contributionship facts for kids
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Philadelphia Contributionship
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(2013)
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 212 S. 4th Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Built | 1835-36 |
| Architect | Thomas U. Walter Collins and Autenreith |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000732 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 27, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | December 22, 1977 |
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The Philadelphia Contributionship is a very old company in the United States. It's the oldest property insurance company in the country. This means they help people protect their homes from damage, especially from fire. The famous American, Benjamin Franklin, helped start this company in 1752. It officially became a company in 1768.
The company's building is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's located at 212 S. 4th Street. The building was constructed in 1835-36. It was designed by Thomas U. Walter in the Greek Revival style. This style looks like ancient Greek temples, often with large columns. The building was later changed in 1866. It was recognized as a special historic place in 1971. Then, in 1977, it became a National Historic Landmark.
How It Started
The Philadelphia Contributionship (TPC) was founded in 1752. Benjamin Franklin played a big part in getting it started. It was set up as a mutual insurance group. This means that the people who bought insurance were also part-owners of the company.
TPC offered fire insurance to homes in and around Philadelphia. They came up with new ways to do insurance. For example, they would check homes before insuring them. They also set prices based on how risky a property was. If a building wasn't built safely, they wouldn't insure it. They could also raise prices if people stored dangerous materials. This company was also the first to save money in a special fund. This fund was used to pay for claims when fires happened.
Franklin's newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette, first announced the company's meeting. This was in February 1752. It invited people to sign up for fire insurance. The first meeting to choose leaders was on April 13, 1752.
At first, the company directors met in public places like taverns. They also held bigger meetings at the courthouse. It wasn't until 1835 that they bought land for their own main office.
Today's Contributionship
The Philadelphia Contributionship is still working today! It offers many types of insurance. These include insurance for homeowners, condos, and renters. They also offer landlord property and umbrella liability insurance.
The company has grown a lot. Its agents now serve people in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. TPC has over 120 employees. It has been named a Top Workplace in Philadelphia for five years. This award comes from The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Important Early Leaders
Some important people helped lead the company in its early days.
| Name | Job |
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| William Coleman | Judge |
| Benjamin Franklin | Printer |
| Samuel Rhoads | Architect / Master Carpenter |
| Philip Syng | Silversmith |
See also
