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History Our history began February in the year
1901. Township mutual insurance companies were created out of
necessity - to combine the strength of individuals for protection
against fire. They were usually developed by farm leaders who
could find no practical means of protecting themselves against financial
loss by fire except in a cooperative effort. This was the case in
Melrose. The first meeting was held at the Joseph Kuhlman home.
The company became known as Melrose Mutual Farmers' Fire Insurance
Company, formed for the purpose of aiding and assisting its
members who suffered loss by fire or lightning. Throughout the
years, the company purchased fire trucks and water tanks to be housed
and used by the Melrose Fire Department to fight fires.
In the early 1950's, the amounts of
insurance required by farms and city homes reached the point where
Melrose Mutual needed additional financial support. They purchased
reinsurance from Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company of Grinnell, Iowa
in 1954 and have been with them ever since.
In the early years, the office was
located in the Secretary's home. In 1990, the Board of Directors
decided to hire Russ Prill as manager and move its office to Main
Street. Russ automated the company. Patti Rothfork was hired
as full-time manager in 2000 when Russ left and is the manager/treasurer of
the company today.
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