Metropolitan Survives the San Francisco Earthquake

Shortly afterward the company established offices on the West Coast more convenient quarters were secured in the fine Hayward Building, known as "the first skyscraper in San Francisco," to which the Head Office moved on January 1, 1902.

The pioneering work accomplished, Mr. Gaston, who had remained in charge, followed the other officers back to New York. Upon occupation of the new quarters, Thornton R. Richardson, assistant secretary, was made manager of the Pacific Coast Head Office and remained in charge until January 1904, when he was called to other duties at the home office, and was succeeded by assistant secretary Frederick F. Taylor as manager.

The growth of business necessitated additional space, and in 1905 the head office moved to the Wells Fargo building. The records of that year showed a total of approximately $10,000,000 of ordinary insurance in force, which includes cheap homeowner insurance and auto insurance.

Then there was $30,000,000 of industrial insurance, built up from the $16,000,000 acquired from the Pacific Mutual. The company remained in this location until April 18, 1906, the fateful date of the earthquake and fire which were completely to gut the office building and to destroy a large portion of its valuable records.

The earthquake occurred on Wednesday. For days the fires raged violently, but even before they were brought under control, Mr. Taylor had leased for the company the entire second floor of the Jefferson Square building. There, on Saturday, April 21st, a primitive office was opened to pay up on life insurance and give free home insurance quotes, and help set people up with health insurance.

The following Monday 32, head office clerks and 55 field men reported for duty, and policyholders streamed in for assistance. On Wednesday, April 25th, the first death claim was paid. Just seven days after the earthquake, the Metropolitan's employees had the office in operation. The new quarters did not offer too many conveniences. The space secured for the head office had previously served as a bowling alley and billiard parlor, and there were no desks, chairs, or tables available in all San Francisco.

The clerks, undismayed by such difficulties as the installation of false floors while they worked, made use of the reverse sides of the bowling score sheets for recording transactions to insure those wanting private health insurance and different types of life insurance after seeing for themselves what could happen to them without warning. They were kept busy every minute of the day, for policyholders called continuously to report missing relatives and to bring word of the loss of policies and premium receipt books.

Through the efforts of agents and the office personnel, many families were reunited and needful relief was given. Just two weeks and a day after the earthquake, the head office was completely reestablished with new desks, chairs, typewriters, and printed forms received by express from the home office. The devastating experience had tested the courage and the devotion of the Metropolitan staff and found them ready.

It is appropriate to note that at this time the company, observing the growing importance of the Pacific Coast business decided to add a native representative of the west to its Board of Directors. Therefore, still in that fateful month of April 1906, William H. Crocker, an eminent banker, philanthropist, and civic leader, was invited to serve, and did so with distinction for the subsequent 31 years of his life. As one of the leading figures in the rebuilding of San Francisco after the disaster, Crocker commented, some years later, on the prompt response of the Metropolitan to appeals to help reconstruct the shattered city.

He said, "Those of you who were here at the time of our great disaster will remember how wonderfully the company came to our rescue and loaned its money freely in our midst. It thereby gave us needed courage, and ... in large measure restored the city so rapidly to its present grandeur." When Mr. Crocker died in 1937, his son, William W. Crocker, was chosen to succeed him on the Board of Directors, where he still serves.