Welcome to Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company’s 125th year celebration.
Although no path to this milestone is linear, one commitment has remained the same. Our commitment to serving you and your business needs. The mutual model lives in every person we employ, action we take, and relationship we build. We awake every morning with only one objective, and that is to serve our policyholders!
We celebrate this year with a respectful look to our past and an exciting eye to the future. Each day this year and every year into the future, we commit to not only being here for you, but with you.
Please explore the following page to see what we have planned to honor this moment in our rich history. We encourage you to join in on the celebrations as they pop up throughout the year.
John K. Smith
President & CEO
Our Founding
It was through The Lumbermens Exchange, a buying cooperative created by a group of prominent lumbermen in the Philadelphia area, that the idea for PLM began. A young lumber executive, Edward F. Henson, headed the Insurance Committee to investigate the high rates being charged to lumber dealers by stock insurance companies. These pioneering lumbermen organized the first three lumber mutual fire insurance companies in the country and Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Fire Insurance Company was born in 1895, 125 years ago.
Now in our 125th year, the company continues as Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company and is the only remaining lumber mutual in the United States.

PLM has expanded its coverages and services to adapt to the changing needs of its policyholders, but has stayed true to its roots in the wood industry.

PLM has been with you since 1895
PLM 125th Anniversary Video
Our Anniversary Celebrations
We are excited to celebrate our anniversary with various events throughout the year to thank our customers, producers, and employees for helping us become who we are today.
We pay tribute for our success and longevity in this industry by paying it forward as we give back to our communities. During our anniversary year, we will be increasing our volunteerism and will host charitable events to raise money for different organizations.

On February 26, 2020, PLM celebrated its 125th birthday, launching our official anniversary year with a series of events designed to celebrate a century and a quarter of serving the lumber, forestry, and building materials industries.
Within three weeks of that momentous day, our Philadelphia office was shuttered and celebratory activities scheduled for the remainder of the year were postponed.
Not to be deterred, we will reignite our 125th anniversary celebration in 2021 under the banner of 125 + 1.
Check back as we update this page with our events and activities in 2021.
Classic PLM Wood Industry Insurance Advertisements
Click on an ad to view full size image
Rearrange Your Insurance – Advertisement from May, 1937

Fire Doesn’t Take A Vacation – Advertisement from 1940s

Sturdy As The Oak – PLM Logo, 1950s

Winter’s on the Way! – Advertisement from November, 1956

Listen – Advertisement from April 1958

Lock Up The Yard – Advertisement from October, 1958

UNlucky 7 – Advertisement from the 1960s

Like to Go Along for the Ride? – Advertisement from August, 1961

2/01/2020 –AM Best TV – Celebrating the company’s 125th anniversary.
Celebrate with us on Social Media
Follow us as we share historical photos and information on different events and activities planned for our anniversary year.
#PLM125