Object Details
- Description (Brief)
- Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
- The Niagara District Mutual Fire Insurance Company of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada issued this cast iron fire mark in 1836. The oval fire mark has a raised image in the center of two clasped hands shaking, with the founding date of 1836 below. There is raised text inside the scalloped edge that reads “NIAGARA • DISt. • MUTUAL • FIRE • INSURANCE • Co.” The Niagara District Mutual Fire Insurance Company operated from 1836 until 1878.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- maker
- unknown
- date made
- 1836
- Credit Line
- Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
- Physical Description
- cast iron (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 5 1/2 in x 7 1/8 in; 13.97 cm x 18.0975 cm
- Object Name
- fire mark
