Marshall Marching Band Competitions

​If you grew up during the 1940s you may remember the Marshall Marching Band Competitions.  Marshall sits in the northwest corner of the county, surrounded by miles of farm fields.  The once vibrant farming center has become faded with time, but memories remain.  By the 1930s, Marshall’s school band was known for winning competitions.  In 1938 their success coupled with the town extra wide streets lead to Marshall becoming the home of the “Small Town Band Festival”.  The competition was limited to high schools with less than 300 students.  Bands would gather as crowds lined Main Street.  By 1951, sixty-five schools from across the state came to Marshall to compete.   In 1952, the competition had to be cancelled due to a state competition date conflict.  This was fatal blow for Marshall, ending of the Marching Band Competition for which the town had become famous.