As The Caledonian-Record prepares to highlight businesses celebrating milestone anniversaries, Littleton, NH’s Hunkins and Eaton Insurance Agency saw a significant change. After 145 years, the agency, which had been owned by the Eastman family for nearly seven decades, was sold to George M. Stevens and Son Co. Insurance, a locally owned business run by Chris Knapp and Keith Young.
“I don’t say anything about these folks,” said Kevin Eastman, who oversaw Hunkins and Eaton for more than 50 years. “They were good guys. They knew it was going to have to happen and it wasn’t easy for them. The transition was about the people. George M. Stevens had assets for the transition that I had, and they are really happy working with their employees.”
Eastman’s office has been at 6 Main St., the same address where George M. Stevens was created more than a century ago, a location that Eastman said was central to his sons’ office.
“It’s their thing as much as they want it,” Eastman added.
For Eastman, it was time to retire.
“(6 had some good clients, and I knew that I wanted to get them to these folks,” he explains. “My ancestors founded the company in 1878, and I took it over from my parents in 1988. I started working there in 1991, I came to town with Robert Quinn in 1991 or so.”
Eastman specifically connected with Chris Knapp and Keith Young to see if they wanted to take over Hunkins and Eaton.
“I know the value of the agency in the George M. Stevens and the value of the clients. I’m very connected with both of them. They’re very good at their work, and their employees are very connected. This made the most sense for my employees and for my clients to take care of and my clients to take care of themselves and not have to be overwhelmed and have to deal with a different office outside of town. This made the most sense.”
Eastman is joined in the transition by employees Donald Stevens, an over 40-year employee and Elaine Huckins, another long-time employee.
“They’re all very connected and very loyal employees.”
“It gets a lot to me daily. (6 wants to get them where our clients aren’t in the same company, and the best way to take care of your clients is to take care of your employees. Chris and Keith would take care of the business, the clients, and would do the same to help them to do so.”
“I don’t know all the details on Main Street, but I thought Hunkins and Eaton had to be one of the most consistently operating businesses on Main Street,” said Eastman. “The business was started in 1878 by the Eastman family. We have been on Main Street for that long. We were here around the 1920’s.”
What matters and what works is the business.
“Employees, clients, connection—that’s it,” Eastman said.
Hunkins and Eaton’s services included auto, home, commercial, and life insurance in addition to other financial services.
In 1995 and 1997, Hunkins and Eaton also won the National Association of Insurance Agents’ award for two consecutive years, covering customer service, ethics, education and professional developments.
In 2000, George M. Stevens and Donald Stevens began 100 years. of service.
