Swimming pools can be a fun family asset to your backyard. However, before considering such fun in the sun, it’s a good idea to talk with your homeowner’s insurance agent to be sure you have coverage in place. [Read more…] about Things to Know About Swimming Pools
By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
By the 1950s, Ixonia Mutual Insurance Company and Watertown Mutual Insurance Company had survived World War I, the Great Depression and World War II. Both companies steadfastly persevered under the long-term leadership of their secretaries. John Degner served Ixonia Mutual from 1944-1968. Arthur Linnes served Watertown Mutual from 1943-1971. Both mutuals, however, were slow to change and comfortable with writing just fire and lightning coverages, a practice shared by their mutual counterparts throughout the state. That they eventually added wind and supplemental coverages was only in response to their policyholders’ demands.
Then came the 1960s and future of town mutuals became seriously threatened. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Surviving the Big Dogs in the 1960s
By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
In 1937 Wisconsin’s state law authorized mutuals the ability to write supplemental coverages for smoke, theft, and similar disasters, but it wasn’t until 1951 that it authorized extended coverage. Along with extended—also known as wind coverage—came the new requirement of reinsurance, where another insurance company takes on all or part of the risk covered under a policy issued by another insurance company in consideration of a premium payment. In 1951, the state law determined wind coverage had to either be 100% reinsured or the mutual’s wind losses must be capped at $2.50 per thousand of wind insurance in force. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: How a Major Disaster Affected Extended Coverage and Reinsurance
By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
Throughout their operations, Ixonia Mutual Insurance Company and Watertown Mutual Insurance Company steadfastly served the small town communities of southeastern Wisconsin. However, “small town” is not to say they operated in a bubble of oblivion to rest of the world. Both mutuals maintained a keen awareness of national and international affairs and proactively sought to protect their policyholders as best they could. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Tumultuous 1930-1940s
By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
In 1913, Ixonia Mutual presented at its annual meeting a resolution to insure automobiles. It did not pass. Interestingly, in 1914, Watertown Mutual also brought up a resolution to insure automobiles and its voters approved. Not to be outdone by its competitor, Ixonia Mutual reconsidered the idea and in 1915 they introduced their auto coverage. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Insuring Automobiles
By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
Our summer is drawing to a close and just like generations before us, we reminisce of the season’s county fairs and the judging of livestock. Forward Mutual participates in two fairs: the Jefferson County Fair and the Dodge County Fair. We do so because farming, particularly dairy farming, is part of our Forward Mutual heritage. Let’s look back at this history and how it affected mutual insurance.
Let’s look at our area in 1913. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Our Dairy Heritage