First CU transaction recreated at 100th celebration
MANCHESTER, N.H. (11/26/08)--St. Mary's Bank, America's first credit union, celebrated its 100th anniversary Monday with a re-enactment of the nation's first credit union transaction.
"It was spectacular," said Elizabeth Stodolski, St. Mary's Bank vice president of marketing. "The actors were wonderful."
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St. Mary's Bank held a re-enactment of the first transaction at its credit union as a part of its 100th anniversary celebration Monday. From left are actors portraying millworkers--the credit union's first member--and one of the credit union's founders, attorney Joseph Boivon. (Photo provided by St. Mary's Bank)
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The transaction took place at the original location of St. Mary's Bank, which is now America's Credit Union Museum. Professional actors wearing costumes reflecting the early 1900s played the roles of the credit union's founders, Monsignor Pierre Hevey, Alphonse Desjardins, and Joseph Boivon, and millworkers, who were the credit union's first members.
The re-enactment was videotaped through a partnership with Credit Union Journal. CO-OP Financial Services also supported the videotaping.
The videotaping took about four hours. "We took a more ambitious approach," Stodolski said. "We shot multiple scenes in the interior and exterior of the museum.
The nature of the re-enactment was not conducive to a live audience, but neighbors and community members walked by the filming and watched, she said.
St. Mary's Bank President/CEO Ron Rioux, who was instrumental in getting America's Credit Union Museum off the ground, also was in costume.
The video is being edited, and will be available on the St. Mary's Bank website, www.stmarysbank.com.
After the re-enactment, a reception was held at the museum. About 100 individuals attended, including Dan Eagan, president/CEO of the New Hampshire Credit Union League, Rioux, and two guests from Canada--France Dionne Quebec, delegate to Boston, and Esther Normand of the Alphonse Desjardins Historical Association.
The credit union also continues to collect ideas and online votes for items that will be placed in a St. Mary's Bank time capsule, which will be buried as a part of the 100th anniversary celebrations.
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