Wtphelan

Overview
WTPhelan Insurance Agency was founded in 1898 in Cambridge, Massachusetts by William Thomas Phelan. The company sells personal, business and life insurance products. WTPhelan currently employs approximately 40 employees with 5 branch locations Arlington, Massachusetts, Belmont, Massachusetts, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lexington, Massachusetts and Watertown, Massachusetts.
History
Phelan Family and Early Company History
Company founder, William Thomas Phelan, was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on July, 20 1861. He was the son of William Phelan (who fled Ireland in 1842), and Bridget Phelan. William Thomas Phelan had one older brother, John Phelan and two sisters: Maria and Margaret Phelan. The Phelan family lived in the historic 18th century home, Elmwood in Cambridge, Massachusetts for forty years. Elmwood now serves as the residence of the President of Harvard University .
William T. Phelan received his education at Cambridge High School by attending evening classes, but had to leave the institution after becoming ill. William was also a Notary Public and Justice of the Peace.
The Phelan family moved from Elmwood in 1884 to a home near Harvard Square. In 1882, William purchased a novelty and newspaper store in Cambridge. Along with this store, he opened a bicycle shop. William founded his real estate and insurance business in 1898 - the office was located at 1227 Cambridge Street in Inman Square.
William Thomas Phelan had two sons, Joseph and Francis. Joseph went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology and became a plant manager for Hood’s Milk Company and taught at MIT . Francis, on the other hand, joined his father’s real estate and insurance business in 1928 after graduating from Boston College. William suffered an illness a year later and passed away in 1929, leaving the company to Francis.
Recent History
1930’s
In 1937, WTPhelan moved its office from Inman Square to the South Side of Harvard Square; the address of this location was 1384 Massachusetts Avenue.
1950’s & 1960’s
In the fall of 1957, WTPhelan acquired McCluskey and Hardy Insurance Agency; the company’s office in Harvard Square was shared between WTPhelan and Attorney John Sennott.
In 1962, WTPhelan moved its office to 11 Dunster Street in Harvard Square - Cambridge, MA. In the same year, Richard Ramsey Sr. left his job at CNA Insurance to join WTPhelan as a Claims Representative.
In October, 1965, WTPhelan became incorporated.
Between 1965 and 1970, WTPhelan acquired two insurance agencies: John Healy Insurance Agency, and MJ Burke Insurance Agency. During this time, Francis Phelan served as President, and Richard Ramsey, Sr. was the company’s Vice-President.
1970’s & 1980’s
In 1972, Mr. Richard Ramsey Sr. became the WTPhelan President, while Francis Phelan served as Chairman of the Board.

During the 1970’s, two of Richard Ramsey Sr’s sons began their tenure with the WTPhelan Insurance Agency. Richard Ramsey Jr. graduated from Brown University in 1973, and joined the Agency in 1974 as an Insurance Producer. Thomas M. Ramsey, graduated from Princeton University in 1976 and joined the agency in the same year, working in the agency’s Claims Division.

In the 1980’s the two younger sons of Richard Ramsey Sr. began their work with the WTPhelan Agency. David L. Ramsey joined the Personal Lines Division shortly after graduating from Harvard College in 1981. Robert J. Ramsey (now in charge of the company’s Personal Lines Division) graduated from Dartmouth College in 1985 and began his work at WTPhelan in 1986 as a producer in the Commercial Lines Division.
1990’s
The 1990’s was a decade of growth for WTPhelan, with the acquisition of 5 insurance agencies (4 of which occurred during 1999.) Between November of 1993 and May of 1994, the company purchased a book of business from Johnson and Higgins Insurance Agency. On January 1, 1999, WTPhelan & Company acquired the Sweeney and O’Connell Agency in Arlington Heights, MA and Barrett Insurance Agency in Watertown, MA. On September 1, 1999, Ranieri & Krey Insurance of Cambridge was purchased, and the company ended the decade with the December, 1999 purchase of a personal lines book of business from Sedgwick and James Insurance
In addition to growth of their client base, WTPhelan expanded the number of branch locations during the 1990’s. In October 1995, WTPhelan moved to its present Belmont, MA Location; 63 Trapelo Road. In 1999, the company opened a Watertown office shortly after the purchase of the Barrett Insurance Agency , and an Arlington Heights office with the acquisition of the Sweeney & O’Connell Agency.
2000’s
The turn of the century marked a new era for WTPhelan, where in April 2001, the company moved its long time 11 Dunster Street Cambridge, MA office out of Harvard Square, to it’s present day Porter Square, Cambridge, MA location.
Two more acquisitions we completed during the 2000’s: On January 1, 2007 the company purchased the Ellen Reardon Insurance Agency in Lexington, and opened its Lexington, MA office at 1620 Massachusetts Avenue, and in 2009, the Bartlett Lee Insurance Agency in Lexington, MA was purchased. .
In 2008, WTPhelan established a new division of the company named Private Client Underwriters . This division, based in Lebanon, Maine serves as an insurance intermediary between Chubb Insurance Company and New England independent insurance agents. Chubb Insurance sells insurance products for high-value homes and affluent clientele.
In November 2008, WTPhelan closed its Arlington Heights, MA location and opened a new location in Arlington Center - this 645R Massachusetts Avenue office is the current location of the company’s Commercial Lines Division.
2010’s
In 2011, the Garrett Insurance Agency in Somerville, MA was acquired. .
On July 1, 2012 WTPhelan aquired the DelMastro Insurance Agency of Newton, MA. .
Agency Principals
* Richard R. Ramsey, Jr. - Agency President (1974-present)
* Thomas M. Ramsey - Vice President (1976-present)
* David L. Ramsey - Vice-President (1981-present)
* Robert J. Ramsey - Vice-President (1986-present)

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