History of the AXA Equitable Boston Branch

The H. H. Hyde Agency

Henry Baldwin Hyde founded the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States in New York on July 26, 1859.  At the time, his father, Henry Hazen Hyde, was a "traveling agent" of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, operating in Boston.  The elder Hyde was such a valuable salesman to the Mutual that he was able to negotiate a contract that allowed him to sell Equitable policies in Boston at the same time.  In 1863, the younger Hyde established Equitable's first branch office outside of New York, managed by his father.  It was known as the H.H Hyde Agency for years after he died in 1874.

Boston's Equitable Building

When Hyde's father retired in 1869, Henry T. Blodget was appointed General Agent in Boston.  He eventually set up offices in Equitable's new building in Boston at Milk and Devonshire Streets.  Completed in 1875, the building features a bas relief portrait of Hyde's father.  In the 1800's, Blodget was joined by E.L.S. Hammond.  Hammond remained, but Blodge was succeeded by D.W. Russell, who was followed by S. F. McCleary.

Growing Pains

In 1891, E.L.S. Hammond resigned from the agency and was briefly succeeded by Nathan Warren, who had joined the cashier's department in 1868 and went on to become Boston's "Resident Secretary".  The agency had eight full-time agents in 1891, plus Dunham & Trafford, who covered Rhode Island as their territory.  In 1892, Niver, Sanford & Cranston became managers in Boston.  James B. Niver was "a gentleman of the old school" who died in his fifties after generating much good will for the Equitable.  In 1905, F.A.C. Hill was transferred from a new agency at Providence, Rhode Island, to manage the Boston agency.