MANCHESTER, N.H.--Ron Covey, president and CEO of St. Mary’s Bank, was recently presented with the President’s Award by the Manchester Historic Association.
Most recently, Covey served as Honorary Chair of last year’s MHA’s Historic Preservation Awards.
“His professional support was topped only by his personal involvement, leading to a record amount of money being raised,” noted historian and MHA Trustee Ed Brouder. Previous to his work with the HPAs, Covey consulted MHA in the design of some interior elements at St. Mary's Bank new headquarters in McGregor Square, which was built in 2013. The three-story structure features historical images from the MHA collection and showcases the history of the credit union, particularly how it was formed to serve the men and women of Manchester who worked in the mills. “Ron took the extra step of preserving the ‘La Caisse Populaire Ste-Marie’ sign that stood atop the old building,” said Brouder. “It was refurbished and moved to the credit union’s operations facility on Perimeter Road.” He said Covey also worked with MHA to locate a new home for the mural that hung in the old lobby, which depicted Samuel De Champlain's exploration of early settlements on the banks of the Merrimack River.
“Today, that mural is on loan to the American Canadian Genealogical Society on South Elm Street,” said Brouder, who said St. Mary's Bank is one of the largest financial sponsors for next month’s HPAs.