Last Living Person On Hand For Opening Of First U.S. CU Dies In NH

Gilberte Boivin Brosseau, the last living person to have been present at the 1908 opening of America's first credit union, St. Mary's Bank, passed away last week.

The 101-year-old Brosseau, the daughter of the president of the original St. Mary's Bank, was just a toddler when on hand at the opening of the new credit union. Also on hand for the opening were Alphonse Desjardin, the famous Quebecois credit union pioneer, and Monsignor Heve, who was the driving force behind the formation of St. Mary's Bank.

Ms. Brosseau's childhood home was also the office of the original St. Mary's Bank and today is home to America's Credit Union Museum on Notre Dame Street. She provided organizers of the museum with details about the way the credit union office and family home looked in 1908. Ms. Brosseau's father, Joseph Boivin, was a practicing attorney who became president of the credit union when it was formed

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER