“Marshall Known as Important Music Center” was the headline in the Thanksgiving 1919 Booster Edition of the Marshall News-Messenger. Photographs of the Marshall Municipal Band and the Marshall Ladies Fleur De Lis Band appeared along with an article highlighting their achievements. Edgar A. Ball was the director of both bands at the time. The author of the article wrote, “Citizens of Marshall take a just pride in its musical organizations, the most prominent of which is the Marshall Municipal Band which is without a doubt one of the very best amateur organizations in the state”.

The Municipal Band members who appeared in the photograph were: Edgar A. Ball, A.E. Gruenenfelder, Frank Hoagland, E.A. Soucy, Marshall Middleton, A.B. Gruenenfelder, H.G. Blakeslee, Ralph Hunter, Gilbert Castle, Ronald Cartier, Raymond Paradis, Robert Musch, Edward Musch, B.C. Davidson, Harvey Minnick, Arthur Hardy, Howard Cartier, Floyd Rubertus, John Dekker, E.M. Nelson, T. A. Heck, Ole Davidson, Ernest Lindberg, and H.H. Fink.

The Fleur De Lis Band members who appeared in the photograph, which is featured this week, were: Mrs. D.D. McNiven, Mrs. S.D. Pierce, Mrs. Ward Akester, Elsie Chollett, Selma Kotz, Gleva Fortin, Anne Jansen, Dorothy Johnson, Esther Fricke, Florence Reber, Grayce White, Mrs. E.A. Ball, Mrs. P.J. Brantman, Alice Meier, Olive Weiler, Genevieve Blanchette, Bernice Brandt, Ella Chollett, Florence Vergote, Elsie Lerschen, Mabel Christianson, Mrs. James Hall, Marvel Ehlers, Carvel Ehlers, and Henrietta Addison.

The article also included information on four traveling dance orchestras, which became famous throughout southern Minnesota, sections of Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The companies were: Robinson’s Orchestra, Middleton’s Famous Players Orchestra, Thorburn’s Orchestra, and Jap’s Jazzola Orchestra.

The photograph featured this week from the Lyon County Museum’s collection shows the Fleur De Lis Band on a parade float in 1920.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a non-profit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 W Lyon St in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.