MANCHESTER, N.H.-On Nov. 24, 1908, in a first floor office of a three-story, hillside house on Notre Dame Ave. that overlooked the local textile mills, Joseph Boivon accepted the very first deposit into America's very first credit union.
One-hundred years to the day later, the Credit Union Journal is proud to announce it will be joining with that same credit union, St. Mary's Bank, to recreate that signature, historical moment.
Credit Union Journal and CO-OP Financial Services heave teamed up with St. Mary's Bank to mark the first day of credit union business in the U.S. On Monday, Nov. 24 of this year, with guidance from a local historian, the three organizations will use period re-enactors to recreate the day a century ago when a group of Franco-American Catholics in Manchester formed the St. Mary's Cooperative Credit Association. Less than a year later New Hampshire would enact credit union enabling legislation.
As part of a slate of activities that St. Mary's Bank has planned to mark the Golden Anniversary later this year and next, actors will reenact that first day of business in the very same office where it took place, which like the building that houses it, is all part of America's Credit Union Museum. Video coverage of the proceedings will be made available on www.cujournal.com, while additional coverage will appear in the print issue of Credit Union Journal.
"Nov. 24, 1908 is a special day for St. Mary's Bank, one we're proud to reenact for all to enjoy," said Ronald J. Rioux, CEO of St. Mary's Bank. "But we recognize and appreciate that the history we will be recreating belongs not just to St. Mary's Bank, but to every credit union in America."
The Credit Union Journal, which has always strived to keep a light shining on the proud history of credit unions as it also reports on the latest and most innovative strategies being deployed by credit unions, will be providing significant coverage to credit unions' first century in its reporting throughout 2008 and 2009.
"The Journal is sincerely honored to be able to join St. Mary's Bank in this unique venture to bring this critical piece of credit union history to life," said Credit Union Journal Publisher Frank J. Diekmann. "We look forward to making this event available to not just every credit union in the U.S., but credit unions around the world."
Journal readers should watch for additional coverage and announcements in the coming weeks and months.
