Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-08
IN THEIR NEW QUARTERS.
The Mutual Assurance Society or yirsinia In
Their New Building.

IN THEIR NEW QUARTERS.
The Mutual Assurance Society or yirsinia In
Their New Building.
The Mutual Assurance Society of
Virginia arc now in permanent quarters
in one Of the finest structures of the
best locality in the city. They were
incorporated by act Of Assembly De-
cember 90, 1894. The plan was sug-
gested by Mr.. William Frederick Asst,
a Prussian then residing in Richmond,
and is supposed TO have been modelled
after q system Of mutual guarantee in.
troiuced by Frederick the Great.
December "a, 1895, the subscribers
met in the Capitol and organized by the
election of William Foushee as presi-
dent. December Is, 1897, Mr.. James
Brown, one of the directors, reported to
the Board that he had "effected the
purchase Of one Of the best fire-engines
on the Continent" and the Board do
mated their compensation towards pay
ing for the engine. /" In 1913 the So
ciety bought for $500 part of lot No.
46l. corner Of Grace and Eighth streets.
on which st. Peters church now stands.
for the purpose Of building a fre-proof
office for the Society and residence for
the principal agent Mr.. Samuel Green.
how thenl. In April, 1915, $4,000
were appropriated, and a committee
appointed to contract for build
ing The Office, but in August
of that year finding house of Mr.. w.
{. Williams, on Grace street. which an
swered the desired purposes. they leased
it for term Of five years for $500 per
annum and taxes. The house was the
western tenement Of two buildings still
standing and situate on the south side
of Grace between Seventh and Eighth
streets. Previously to this date the
office was kept in plain wooden house
painted with yellow ochre and situated
near the corner Of Governor and Frank
lin streets, opposite to the Wing build
ing. In July, 1893, the lot at the in
terSection of Grace and Eighth streets
was sold to Rev. Timothy 0'Bricn for
the sum of $4,000.
"0n the Sth of November, 1920, the
Society purchased at auction for s7,775
the property then belonging to John
Preston. at the southeast corner Of Mar
shall and Ninth streets. This property,
after being occupied by the Society for
nearly half century, was rented out
upon the removal of the office, June 10.
1868, to its late location, Tenth and
Bank streets, and on March 10, 1870.
the old quiet retreat was sold for 3l6,-
600 to the Catholic Male Orphan Asy-
lum and School Association of Rich
m0nd.n
The house at the corner of Ninth and
Marshall streets was built by Mr.. Alex
andcr McRae, who was some time di-
rector and president Of the standing
committee Of this Society, and was a
leading lawyer of his day. He was
Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge
Of Virginia, and the associate Of Writ
and Hay in the Burr trial. After this
purchase by the Society the dwelling
was long occupied by Colonel Ruther-
foord as one of his perquisites as prin-
cipal agent. 1t was lucky thing for
the Society that it had its habitation out
of the heart of the great fire of April,
1865. as the destruction of its records
would have worked an irreparable in
jury.
When the Virginia Home Insurance
Company decided to close up business,
the Society was advised bystheir prin-
cipal officer, Mr.. II. A. Claiborne, that
having in view a permanent home for
the company. and taking in considera-
ton the eligible location Of the build
ing and the superb vaults therein, the
purchase of the house No. l0l4 east
Main street for s37 800 would be a wise
investment. Accordingly the purchase
was made. and they abandoned their
old office at the southwest corner of
Bank and Tenth streets. and that whole
building has been purchased by the
Danyille Railroad Company, and the
street floor is ultimately to be. as the
upper floors now are. used for company
Offices.
For ninety years. through wars, con-
nagrations. financial crashes. and
political revolutions, the old Mutual
has stood: for three generations
it has been insuring buildings against
fire always bearing name for
fair-dealing. always having the best
of our people as it, patrons. Year by
year it has struck its roots deeper,
until now it is the synonym for solidity.
strength. and character. The public
have confidence in it. Its affairs are
well administered by its officers; its
revenue is large. and its success great.
The officers Of the company are Pre-
sident and Principal Agent, Ii. "A.
Claiborne Secretary. +. ID. Steger:
Assistant Secretary. Thomas Boiling.
Ir Collector. John Blair.