Blue Ridge Insurance Agency of Berryville is a service-oriented agency located in Berryville, Virginia. Since our origins in the late 19th century, we have been locally owned and operated. We service all areas of the Northern Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia, Maryland, and the West Virginia panhandle with all lines of insurance, from personal and commercial to life, health and title insurance.
We represent a number of companies, all of whom are among leaders in the field. By representing more than one company, we are able to shop our potential insureds’ needs to different companies so we can provide the best product for their needs at the most competitive rate.
OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
What sets Blue Ridge Insurance Agency of Berryville apart from other insurance agencies is our unparalleled commitment to our clients and our strong sense of history. For more than 120 years we have cultivated exceptional relationships with our clients and companies.
We presently have 5 licensed agents ready to assist you with your insurance concerns and needs. We also have licensed contractors who are ready to assist you in case of a property loss, day or night.
OUR HISTORY
The initial agency, called the Leonard H. Bell Insurance Agency, was taken over by Bell’s son, date unknown. Around 1960, J. Frederick Jones, his nephew, purchased the agency and merged it into his agency, Blue Ridge Insurance Agency.
J. Fred, as he was known in the community, took part in Operation Overlord on D-Day. He was part of the 82nd Airborne and was in a glider that crash landed in St. Mere Eglise, France. J. Fred was also a part of Operation Market Garden, another massive glider and airborne assault which was launched to secure a series of bridges over the main rivers of the German-occupied Netherlands. The movie “A Bridge Too Far” was based on this operation.
Leonard H. Bell, right and his son sit at a desk that is still owned by the J. Fred Jones family. Picture circa 1920’s.
The first written contract with a company was signed in 1907; prior to that it was a mere handshake that sealed the deal. That first contract was with The Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Loudoun County, now known as Loudoun Mutual Insurance Company. No one knows what year the agency was appointed to represent Loudoun Mutual, but the company was formed in 1849 and we were the fifth agency appointed to represent them.
In 1984, Michael Clotzman, who had been with Blue Ridge for ten years, purchased the agency from J. Fred Jones. Mike is still President of the agency and has been with the agency for a total of 44 years.
We are members of The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber of Commerce, Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia, Trusted Choice, and Main Street Berryville.
Can you believe an ashtray as a give-away? Not today! Notice the phone number, 21.
