Company evolves through a series of mergers, descends from three separate companies

By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer

PRESQUE ISLE – Founded in 1889, the Hayden Perry Insurance Agency is one of Presque Isle’s oldest locally owned businesses.
The Hayden Perry Agency of today evolved through a series of mergers and descends from three separate companies – the Arthur C. Perry Co. (founded in 1889 by Arthur Perry), the George W. Perry Co. (founded in 1936 by George Perry), and the Hayden Co. (founded in 1947 by Maxwell Hayden).

    “Arthur C. Perry started the insurance agency in 1889,” said Chris Condon, company chief executive officer. “Nathan Perry, who I believe was the nephew of Arthur, purchased the company in 1915 after Arthur’s death. Nathan was the president of the company until 1947. He was also one of the originators of the Presque Isle Rotary Club. One of the lead salesmen, Max Hayden, left the agency in 1947 to start his own agency, The Hayden Co.”
    In 1979, under the leadership of Carlos Stout and Robert Andrews, the Arthur C. Perry Co. merged with the George W. Perry Co. In 1986, Robert Hayden and Albert Condon merged Hayden with Perry to create the business that, to this day, serves its community’s insurance needs.
    Condon said the Hayden Co. originated in its 507 Main St. location until it moved to its present location in 1990.
    “The Arthur C. Perry Insurance Agency was in several locations; before the merger it was located on Dyer Street,” he said.
    In addition to a few mergers, the company has also evolved in other ways.
    “The business has changed dramatically over this time period,” said Condon. “The agency would have been primarily a property driven company. Remember, there were no automobiles in Aroostook County in the late 1800s, thus no auto insurance.
    “There were no federal or state employee protection in the late 1800s, thus no Workers Compensation insurance,” he said. “Negligence for acts was much more strict in those days, thus very little liability insurance. Travel was much more limited a century ago. All business would have been generated in Presque Isle; contrasted to today where we serve all of Aroostook County and many clients beyond the county border.”
    Condon said the agency would have had only a couple of employees compared to 16 today, while the agency produced total revenue of $24,000 in 1938.
    “Total assets of the corporation when it was incorporated in 1914 were $6,000,” he said. “You can’t even buy a car for that today!”
    The presidents of the company over the years have included Arthur C. Perry (founder), Nathan Perry, Clyde Johnston, Carlos Stout, Bob Andrews, Peter Hunt, Al Condon and Chris Condon (present).
    Hayden Perry is located at 40 North St., Suite 1 in Presque Isle. The office is open from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 764-6161 or 1-800-924-0041.

Contributed photo
RIDING IN STYLE — This photo from the early 1900s shows a car bearing the Arthur C. Perry Insurance banner as it rides through Presque Isle during a parade.