America's Credit Union Museum grand opening nears

MANCHESTER, N.H. – In just two weeks, credit unions nationwide will celebrate the grand opening of the first-ever credit union museum – America’s Credit Union Museum – designed says the New England Credit Union Heritage Foundation which has been in charge of building the museum, “to preserve the heritage of the credit union movement in America while educating present and future generations on the value of savings and the sensible use of credit.” The museum will be housed in the Boivin family home that was donated to the foundation by Armand and Joanne Lemire and will be located in Manchester, N.J., the birthplace of the U.S. credit union movement. Joseph Boivin, a local attorney, was the president of the first credit union in the U.S. The CU was housed in Boivin’s home. Originally called St. Mary’s Cooperative Credit Association, it was later changed to La Caisse Populare Ste.-Marie, or “Bank of the People,” Populaire Ste.-Marie, or “Bank of the People,” St. Mary’s. According to the foundation, the museum will be located on the first floor where Boivin’s office and other rooms will be restored and replicated. The second floor of the house will feature additional exhibits, and the third floor will include a conference facility where CUs can meet and youth programs can be held. Money used for the renovation work and architectural planning was raised from CU donations.