The Year Queen Anne Kicked Until Its Fire Insurance Rates Fell
After a year of organized pressure, residents won 25 to 50 percent cuts—because an engine house finally persuaded insurers the hill was worth protecting.
The story, cleaned up
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After a year's persistent kicking, under the leadership of H. R. Clise, the residents of Queen Anne town have obtained from the Pacific Insurance Union a reduction in fire insurance rates of 25 to 50 per cent.
Previous to the building of the fire engine house on Queen Anne Hill, the insurance union had given as an excuse for maintaining high rates in that section the lack of fire protection, and the residents supposed that when an engine house was built a reduction would immediately follow. But one delay after another followed, and it was only recently that a surveyor was sent here and, after looking over the ground, recommended a reduction.
This reduction extends the limits within which the rates in book three apply from Powell Street seven blocks north to Howe Street, and from the Sound east to Lake Union, and gives Queen Anne Hill the same rates as apply in other well-built residence sections of the city.
“After a year's persistent kicking, under the leadership of H. R. Clise, the residents of Queen Anne town have obtained from the Pacific Insurance Union a reduction in fire insurance rates of 25 to 50 per cent.”
Fire insurance rates once drew hard lines around neighborhoods; today, wildfire risk and insurance availability again determine where and whether people can afford to live. Queen Anne's 1894 win was a small reminder that fire protection is a housing-cost issue.
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