The Washington herald., 1907-12-15
OCCUPIES new HOME
Insurance Company Moves to
Uptown District.
OPENS ITS OFFICES TOMORROW
AlatuaI Fire. Organized in 1855, "A
second Time settles I'm New Quar-
ters-Sells Marble Building and
Builds At Thirteenth Street and
New York Avenue Northwest.

Removal OF the Office effects OF the
Mutual Fire Insurance Company TO its
new home, at the northwest corner Of
Thirteenth street and New York avenue.
took place yesterday afternoon, and the
company viii open it's Offices 10 the
public tomorrow morning. fresh from the
hands Of the contractor.
The Insurance company will occupy
about two-thirds OF the ground floor Of
the new building which it has erected.
the remaining portion of the ground floor
and the stories above being devoted TO
stores ana office suites respectively. The
building has been constructed since last
June by Boyer & Smith contractors, ac-
cording 10 plans prepared by Appleton
Clark, jr. The building cost approx
mstely SS2,ot0, and Ss0.000 was paid for the
lot on which it stands.
Utility Sought in Design.
Beauty of design. simplicity of eonstruc-
ton and adaptability TO business require
ments We're the chief instructions given
70 the architect when he took he COM
mission for the plans In working out
his idea he chose white brick for the ex-
3 terror walls. which are laid or granite
base with Indiana limestone trimmings
The exterior of the structure is severely
plain. but withal well proportioned. and
great Improvement To the locality where
it stands.
On the interior the finish is in red birch.
stained light mahogany A vestfbule. tiled
and finished with marble wainscoting
forms the entrance to the companv's
offices, which within. are comfortably
arranged and finely furnished The CEN
tral idea throughout has been utilitarian,
10 which the architect has given rare
touches of beauty in all parts of the
building.
Organized in 1855.
The Mutual Fire Insurance has been in
business continuously since 1856 In the
beginning it occupied quarters on the sec
ond floor over the old Bank of Washing
ton. at Louisiana avenue and Seventh
street. The company remained in these
unpretentious quarters until 1850. when
II moved TO the second floor Of the Marble
Building, then new. at the southwest cor
ner OF Ninth street and Pennsylvania
avenue, where it remained twenty-seven
years. During the early part of 1906 the
company became impressed with the need
OF larger quarters TO carry on its in
creasing business, and took up the con
sideration of removal After elaboration
It was decided to sell the Marble Build
ing and erect new home for the COM
pany further uptown. Accordingly the
building was sold in February. 1906. to
Capt. James +. oyster for $4,000 The
directors OF the company decided TO ex-
pend this sum. or. as much as might be
needed. in the purchase of lot and the
erection of a new building
Finds site in Uptown Section.
1t was not utnu "a year later that q
suitable site was found, in the uptown
business district. and the new building
erected. It was observed that the ten
dency Of the real estate. insurance. and
financial interests OF the city were cen
tering about the district bounded on the
east by Twelfth. lhe west NV Fifteenth
the south by F. and the north by r
streets. To get into this district was the
wish OF the directors, and finally the
way was opened for the purchase Of the
ola grocery story at the corner Of Thir-
teenth street and New York avenue. on
the corner opposite the new Masonic
Temple. and in the line Of the business
improvements going on in that section
The directors Of the company feel that
they have made no mistake i'm going to
the uptown business district. and they are
settling down in the new home Of the
company in the assurance that the loca-
ton viii be "a good one. so far as BUSH
ness IS concerned, possibly until the con-
Germ celebrates its centenary
The officers OF the company are: George
7. Deaying, president; L. Pierce Boteler
secretary; w. a. r. Church. treasurer:
Franklin Barrett. assessor: William Reed
MacGill. and H. B. Simpson. assistant
secretaries