Marshall Park

Marshall Park serves as a charming, picturesque oasis of shade and serenity welcoming you to the main streets of historic Ocean Springs. Planning for the Park began in 1911 as a project of the Ocean Springs Civic Federation. Charles Marshall, Superintendent of the New Orleans and Mobile Division of the L and N Railroad from 1886 to 1917, wrote the Federation in April, 1911 authorizing their stewardship of land west of the L and N Depot for a public park. For the sum of $1 per year, the Federation agreed to create a "show place" for the community. To honor Marshall's active civic involvements the Federation named the new park "Marshall Park". Public use of the Park began in August, 1911 with walking paths, antique seating and water faucets. A sturdy iron fence of railroad boiler tube sections was erected to keep free range livestock from damaging the grounds. A. E. Lee, editor-in-chief of the Ocean Springs News, wrote the Park was "A pretty spot and a credit to the town.. It should be the desire and determination of every loyal citizen to make it still prettier and a place all can point to with pride., At the center of the Park stands the original covered bandstand, where in early years a local brass band gave weekly concerts on summer evenings. Around the late 1920's, the bandstand was relocated to a spot on Old Fort Bayou at the Bayou Inn, now Aunt Jenny's Restaurant. During a critical housing shortage in World War II, the bandstand was rented for $28 per month as home to a young aviator and his family. In 1972, a group of citizens organized to protect Marshall Park. The property was purchased by well-known Ocean Springs citizen Eleanor Bradford Lemon in 1974. In 1989, the old bandstand was donated and relocated to the heart of the Park. The Historic Ocean Springs Association (HOSA) held a fundraiser to rebuild the structure, a "Strike Up the Bandstand" event, and rebuilding soon began. While generously donating the Park to the City of Ocean Springs, in 1998 Mrs. Lemon gave HOSA a 40 year lease for stewardship of Marshall Park. HOSA takes great pride in honoring the trust of Mrs. Lemon and the legacy of Marshall Park. The Historic Ocean Springs Association works to preserve the unique charm and ambience of the historic area which is the heart of the City.