The Christmas lights of Marshall act as a
reminder of how much fun a visit to the northeast Texas town can be any time of
year.
From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, the town begins to glow when the sun goes
down. The centerpiece of the lighting display is the old Harrison County
Courthouse, outlined in over 125,000 white lights. Millions of other lights
decorate the bare pecan trees on the courthouse lawn and the businesses
surrounding the courthouse.
The town square becomes a festival grounds on weekends, as thousands of
visitors pour into the berg. Volunteers hawk hot drinks, souvenirs, and
trinkets while local choirs sing Christmas carols. To make the atmosphere even
more festive, an outdoor skating rink has been added.
Marshall claims to have one of the largest concerted Christmas displays in the
entire country. Hundreds of businesses and entire neighborhoods string lights
or put up displays. Townsfolk estimate that over 300 miles of lights are used
and each year more are added. The chamber of commerce publishes maps to
colorful neighborhoods, and there are also bus and surrey tours.
The Wonderland of Lights in Marshall began in 1987 with a short editorial in
the Marshall News Messenger, in which the writer dreamed of a community
working together in the spirit of Christmas to decorate the town square.
From her home in France, Wendy Reves read the editorial. A Marshall native
and former model, Mrs. Reves sent a note, “Have your dream!”, along with
$25,000.
Over the next three years, Mrs. Reves contributed over $100,000 to the
project. In recent years, the event has become more self-sustaining, as
admission proceeds and souvenir sales keep the lights burning.
Marshall, a bustling city of 26,000 on I-20 surrounded by pine forests, was
the site of the first telegraph office in Texas, and the local Matthewson Drug
Company invented a cure for hemorrhoids still in use today.
On the north side of Marshall, the town’s most famous business celebrates
its 100th anniversary this year. The Marshall Pottery Company combines shopping
with education. A display there tells the history of the company as it went
from bankruptcy to becoming world famous — and their prices on pottery are
unbelievably low.
No visit to the area would be complete without visiting Jefferson, 18 miles
north of Marshall. Once a riverboat town, Jefferson is now a community of
bed-and-breakfast inns and boutiques.
Caddo Lake, Texas’ only natural lake, crosses the state boundary 12 miles
northeast of Marshall. The state park offers a glimpse of the lake lined with
cypress trees draped in Spanish moss.
For more information on local architecture and history, ask at the visitor
center for the Lake Trail Map, or contact the chamber of commerce at
903/935-7868. For information on Jefferson, call 903/665-2672. The number
at Caddo Lake State Park is 903/679-3351 (for reservations at their campgrounds
or cabins, call 389-8900).
Coming up…
Rock Art Tour at Big Bend Ranch State Park takes visitors to
prehistoric sites not usually open to the public, Dec. 28-30. 915/229-3416.
River Walk Mud Festival makes a party of when the drain the river in downtown
San Antonio for maintenance, Jan. 2-7. 210/227-4262.
Harvest Time at the pecan orchard west of San Saba on US190 continues through
Jan. 15 (began Nov. 15.). 915/372-6078, 800/621-8121. n
This article appears in December 22 • 1995 and December 22 • 1995 (Cover).