Last week, CHS reported on a long-time Hill business closing shop after serving the area for 74 years. Today, we want to celebrate another Hill old timer that is about to mark its golden anniversary on the Hill. In its 50 years of doing business on Capitol Hill, family-owned Spangler Insurance hasn’t moved very far.

Now on 15th Avenue next door to Coastal Kitchen and Cafe Ladro, Spangler started in the back of the Spangler family home on 16th Avenue where Tom, son of the founder and the company’s current owner, and his nine siblings grew up.

“My dad was really a life and health insurance salesman and my mom started selling property and casualty insurance in 1972,” he said. The business started way back in 1961.

Tom has been working for the family business for 16 years — he bought it from his parents 10 years ago. According to Tom, Spangler has grown threefold since 1995. The insurance agency serves 1,700 families in Washington, Oregon and California with clients including homeowners, local business owners and members of the local media. Tom, a lifelong Capitol Hill resident who even attended O’Dea High School and Seattle University, says 15th Ave East is as close as they will get to Manhattan. Spangler is a family-run, Pacific Northwest business.

“We’ve always been very involved in Capitol Hill,” Tom said. “My dad kind of regenerated the Chamber of Commerce. I’ve been involved with the Broadway Association and Community Council. […] We love the neighborhood, the eclectic people and residents.”

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the business, Spangler will be giving away reusable grocery bags and baseball caps in 2011. Tom encourages his Hill neighbors to walk into the business at 431 15th Ave East, say hi, and grab a birthday cap. Learn more at http://spanglerinsurance.com/