Marshall community group works to restore historic neighborhood

MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS)—A community group in Marshall is taking steps to restore one of the city’s most historic neighborhoods.

New Town, the predominantly black neighborhood surrounding Wiley University, still shines, but without some of the luster of the past. Time and neglect have taken a toll on the once self-contained neighborhood. New Town once boasted its own hospital, schools, funeral homes, and medical offices. Once seen as a premier neighborhood in Marshall, especially for black residents, people still have pride despite knowing there is work to be done.

The New Town Neighborhood Association is a group of people willing to do that work. In addition to spring and fall clean-up events, the group also paints the homes and cuts the yards of elderly and disabled residents, operates a community garden, and collaborates with city officials to revitalize the neighborhood.

While the New Town Association does a lot of work, the group does have help. The Marshall Police Department routinely helps with events, with officers advising on safety concerns and Chief of Police Cliff Carruth regularly attending. Republic Industries provides trucks and workers to dispose of the collected trash in addition to making regular donations to the group. For the cleanup event, Applebee’s provided lunch. The neighborhood means something, not just to the residents but to the city, and the city responds accordingly.

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Despite this, the New Town Neighborhood Association is clearly leading the way. To join them, search for New Town Neighborhood Association—Marshall on Facebook.