1852 Macoupin County (ILL) Agricultural & Mechanical Society, Life Member Badge.

Description

1852 Was The First Year That The Macoupin County (Illinois) Agricultural And Mechanical Society Annual Fair Was Held.  After a few years the Society was looking for a permanent site to hold the fair every year.  They decided to raise the money, by offering the townspeople a life membership to the annual fair for each.  The money needed was raised and a plot of land was purchased for 0, in Carlinville, Illinois, in the mid-1850's.  That is when this badge was issued to a member for lifetime admission to the Macoupin County Fair.  It is nickel, embossed, oval, 42 mm by 35 mm in size, and in excellent condition, except the pin is locked permanently, and I don't want to take the chance of breaking it by prying it open.  This is a nice early Agricultural and Mechanical Society item, that would go along nicely with a collection of Agricultural and Mechanical Society Medals.