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MANCHESTER,
N.H. 3/31/03 – New Hampshire’s newest museum will open to the
public beginning March 31.
The museum was once the home of Attorney
Joseph Boivin, who was President of the first credit union in the United
States. Monsignor Pierre Hevey, pastor of St. Marie’s Church, with
the help of Alphonse Desjardins, leader of the credit union movement
in Canada, founded the first credit union in the United States in Manchester,
N.H., in 1908.
“In addition to credit union leaders who come from across the nation and
contribute to the museum, we invite credit union members and the general public
to visit the museum,”said Peggy Powell, executive director of the Museum.”
The Boivin home has undergone a million-dollar renovation to restore it to the
original period. Museum rooms and exhibits are located on two floors.
Powell said she is still searching for furnishings that were once in the residence
or are similar to what may have been there.
“Members of the family have been very helpful in providing information
about the original furnishings and several people have come forward to make donations,”said
Powell.
The museum, which presents a complete history of the credit union movement, was
founded so that mill workers, who were denied the privileges of savings and credit,
would have somewhere safe to save their money and access reasonable credit. Today
there are 10,000 credit unions in the United States, representing 82 million
members.
Museum hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday,
or for groups by appointment.
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Press/Analyst
Contact
Peggy Powell
Executive Director
America's Credit Union Museum
603.629.1553
ppowell@acumuseum.org |
