Tri-Town Insurance established in 1925, is celebrating 90 years in business, the oldest independent and locally owned insurance agency and brokerage firm in our area. Pictured are Scott, Tom, and Art Poulton at the 192 Front St. office in Owego, N.Y, located in Historic River Row. Tri-Town also has offices in Bainbridge, Elmira Heights and Whitney Point, which serve local communities in New York and Pennsylvania. (Photo by Heather Gunther)
Tri-Town Insurance, headquartered at 192 Front St. in Owego, N.Y., is celebrating an extra-special occasion in 2015, its 90-year anniversary. Originally established in 1925, the independent, locally owned and operated insurance and financial service agency has not only flourished with various products and services it offers, but added several locations throughout a five county area to service their friends, neighbors and businesses in New York and Pennsylvania.
Located in an 1890’s building along Owego’s Historic River Row, Tri-Town has locations in Bainbridge, Elmira Heights and Whitney Point. The original office location has changed a few times within the Village of Owego; at one time on Lake Street, but most recently in the heart of River Row as a mainstay for six decades.
If the name Arthur B. Stiles sounds familiar, he had a hand in early local businesses and organizations such as the Owego Savings and Loan, founder of the Owego Rotary Club and the clothing store, Bandler, Stiles and Keyes, among others. Tri-Town’s beginnings started as the name Arthur B. Stiles, and later changed to Barton-Barnes with John Barton and Clyde Barnes. Clyde Barnes, along with Cliff Ulrich, was associated with creating the Catatonk Golf Course.
Tri-Town, aptly named to identify its multiple locations, includes a second generation of the Poulton family. Tom Poulton became President in 1977 and continues to lend his vast experience to a firm that has seen significant growth and prosperity along with his sons, Art and Scott.
Art Poulton shared, “My brother, Scott, and I have been with the agency a combined 55 years, unheard of today in a family business.”
As the oldest independent and locally owned insurance agency and brokerage firm in our area, Tri- Town holds the distinction of being one of the oldest insurance broker/agents in the country, surpassing the longevity of Allstate, Nationwide and GEICO, and, out of thousands of others, is notably the thirty third agency appointed by the Hartford Insurance Companies.
Now with four locations encompassing a 60-mile radius, each location offers all the insurance services that you will ever need. Art shared, “We not only provide business and industrial insurance, but all the insurance’s a family needs for their car, home and life insurance needs during a lifetime.”
Tri-Town’s slogan, “We’re lookin’ out for you,” is based on a philosophy that lends to creating long-term relationships with clients. Tom Poulton said, “We try to put ourselves in the shoes of our customers,” and he added, “From there we work together to come up with the best scenario based for your lifestyle, economic status and needs.”
Within the complex fields of insurance and financial services, Tri-Town representatives consistently keep up on the trends and changes within the industry by regularly attending continuous education classes, including mandated courses pertinent to the industry and state requirements. “We go above and beyond,” shared Tom Poulton.
“At Tri-Town we have a unique ability since we are licensed directly with many preferred commercial and personal insurance carriers,” Scott Poulton stated. He added, “This allows us to provide the best possible protection program for all your insurance needs.”
After 90 years in the industry, Tri-Town has fostered a strong relationship with the community and region, and takes pride in their long-term stability.
“Businesses and people come to us for the fact that Tri-Town is stable, honest and a local family-owned business,” explained Art.
For more information about Tri-Town Insurance, call the main Owego office at (607) 687-1381, or visit their web site at tritowninsurance.com, which includes a complete listing of services and locations
