Among the activities scheduled is a talk by historian Miguel Ibarz, who will review the history of the entity since its founding in 1861.
In 1861, the Civil Society of Montes de Mequinenza was founded as a consequence of the Disentailment promoted by the Minister of Finance, Pascual Madoz, in the second half of the 19th century. This disentailment aimed to mobilize resources to develop the economy by declaring all properties, primarily communal, belonging to municipalities, as well as those owned by the State or the clergy, among others, up for sale. The main event commemorating the 163rd anniversary of the organization will take place on Friday, July 26th, at 7:30 p.m. in the Goya Room with a talk entitled “Monts Comuns de Mequinenza, 1861-2024,” presented by historian Miguel Ibarz.
From its origins to the present day, and its turbulent early years in an era of great social inequality, the cooperative began with a dozen wealthy residents of Mequinenza determined to prevent the municipal lands from falling into the hands of large landowners with no connection to the town, following the auctions. This decision led to riots and demonstrations, prompting the founding members to expand the cooperative to nearly 500 shareholders who, at that time, before the arrival of mining, relied primarily on agriculture for their livelihood. This number has fluctuated over the years, reaching 176 in 2024.
The celebration will also include a more festive part, scheduled for Saturday, July 27th, in the Town Hall Square. This will feature a performance by the Benidorm Show Orchestra, which will be celebrating its 10th anniversary alongside the 163rd anniversary of the Civil Society of Montes. The concert will begin at 8:30 p.m., followed by a dance session starting at 11:30 p.m. All events are free of charge until capacity is reached.
