Berkshire Rangers

The Berkshire Rangers drum and bugle corps was formed in June 1947 under the direction of Darcy Davis Jr. as an independent unit. The nucleus was a group of former members of junior corps, including the North Adams junior VFW corps. Robert Manuel and Joseph Crescimbeni assisted in the formation.

The members got together and paraded at the Memorial day event in May under the name of the Independent drum corps of North Adams. The corps reorganized as the Berkshire Rangers the following month and performed in several community parades and exhibitions in their inaugural season.

In 1948, they began field competition at the Musters tournament and also competed head to head against the larger corps VFW corps over the next few years, including winning the 1948 and 1949 New England title. After the 1950 competitive season, the corps went inactive until September of 1956, when former members of drum corps within the city reactivated the Berkshire Rangers.

In November of 1956, the corps merged with the Shire City Sparks parade corps of Pittsfield to form the Berkshire Marauders.

Paul Legault (DCX)

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