History of Insurance by Burley
In 1909, the Armstrong Insurance Agency first opened its doors in Alanson, Michigan. It operated in both insurance and banking until it was sold to an Armstrong employee, E.A. Troup. James E. Burley acquired the Troup agency in 1961, followed by the acquisition of other small local agencies, and formed the Burley-Corneil Agency. Soon thereafter, other Burleys joined the agency creating a family staff of four: Jim & Gwen Burley and Jack & Jackie Burley.
The company name was changed to Insurance by Burley when the Harbor Springs location was established in 1974. Staff members were added, our customer base grew and Insurance by Burley embarked on a new beginning, built on a strong foundation. The symbol of Insurance by Burley, a sturdy 100-year-old oak tree, was selected to represent our agency’s strength, growth and longevity.
Jim Burley retired in 1976 and Jack Burley retired in 2003, when the agency was sold to a third generation employee. Now Bryan Burley and his partner Gary Morse currently employ a staff of 10 in our two offices.
Insurance by Burley is Northern Michigan’s truly local insurance agency; our staff is here to serve all of your insurance needs. You will see our faces throughout our communities, involved in our local service organizations, churches, clubs, sports programs and social circles. Please visit us in our offices or in the communities in which we live and work.
Since 1909, the tree continues to grow!