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On June 17, 1843, prior to incorporation of Elizabethtown Insurance Company, a meeting was held consisting of citizens residing in West Lampeter Township and Conestoga Township, Lancaster County. During this meeting the group appointed Jacob Backman, Esq. as chairman and John Strohm as secretary. A committee, formed at the meeting, drafted by-laws for organization for Elizabethtown Insurance Company of Lancaster County. Notice of the meeting was published and the by-laws as reported by the committee were accepted. The first Board of Directors consisted of John Strohm, Francis Herr, John Rohrer, John Musselman, and John Mecartney.

The directors met and agreed to petition the Pennsylvania State Legislature for an Act of Incorporation on December 23, 1843. Seventeen years before Abraham Lincoln took office as our nation's sixteenth President, Elizabethtown Insurance Company received its charter by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The charter dated January 31, 1844, authorized Elizabethtown Insurance Company to begin doing business. In order to issue the first policy, it was necessary for the Company to have applications from prospective policy holders for insurance in the amount of $300,000. As of June 8, 1844, the company had applications for $609,320 of insurance from 177 members. Elizabethtown Insurance Company was in the insurance business.

Elizabethtown Insurance Company recorded its first loss on July 12, 1845, when the stable of Samuel Barr of West Lampeter was destroyed by fire. The amount of the appraised loss was $150.00. Payment was made by I.O.U. in the amount of $112.50 -75 percent of the appraised value. After the premiums were collected from all those insured, the IOU was finally paid. Adjusters received $1.00 per day for work performed.

From the very beginning, Elizabethtown Insurance Company was on the move. On July 21, 1851, meetings were moved from Lampeter Square, Martic Township, to the house of William Wright in the city of Lancaster. In the late 1800's, an office was then rented at 41 East Grant Street, Lancaster, followed by a relocation to 3 North Duke Street, Lancaster. The Company's office next moved from Lancaster to the Hertzler Building at 19 East High Street, Elizabethtown, on April 1, 1925. In their new quarters, on June 29, 1936, the Company began writing storm insurance in addition to fire coverage. In 1947, the office moved to 229 South Market Street Elizabethtown. On February 1, 1960, W. W. Frank, the Company's first full time claims manager and underwriter, was hired-thus freeing the Board from reviewing all claims and applications.

Elizabethtown Insurance Company finally found a place to meet growing office space requirements; the handsome property at 56 North Market Street, Elizabethtown was purchased on November 7, 1960. On May 11, 1961, the Company moved to this new location and remains there today. The property has historical significance as Elizabethtown's oldest building----originally a log trading post in 1745. Known then as the "Bear Tavern," the occupants traded with Indians and settlers and provided food and lodging to west-bound travelers. The structure has been renovated several times. As the building stands today, its heavy stucco texture and neoclassical style trim is an excellent example of the classical revival style of the early 1900s. In 1987 a major restoration project was completed, and today this building is a historic monument.

>> Historic Photos

Old Black Bear TavernThis picture was taken from a post card showing, "Old Black Bear Town, Built 1733, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania" - which post cards were sold by G.N. Falkenstein who was one of the early Presidents of Elizabethtown College. He operated a book store at 39 South Market Street. Doubtless there was a Black Bear Tavern in 1733 at this location, but in 1733 there was no stone building here. In the opinion of Francis L. Olweiler, Sr., there was a log building at this approximate location, which was an early trading post.

The rear portion of the building is narrower than the front part and has much thicker walls than the front. When the front part was built is unknown. Front of building faces East onto North Market Street.

When Dr. Vere Treichler renovated the building in 1915, it was discovered that the correct date of the first original narrow part of the building was 1745. An oblong stone was located under the eaves of the south side of the building bearing the following description:

H
1745
T-M

The top letter "H" signifies Harris. The "T" is for Thomas and the "M" is for Mary, indicating that Thomas and Mary Harris built this older portion.

Elizabethtown Insurance Company purchased the property in the spring of 1961. This now bears the address of 56 North Market Street, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.

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