Sayler Peavey, Wood River Museum of History and Culture Intern
A small-town celebration proudly marches down a muddy street, with brass instruments, horses trotting past storefronts, spectators and floats. The faces may be unfamiliar, but the feeling is timeless—patriotism, community, and the excitement of Independence Day. This is one of many images captured by Martyn Mallory, one of the Wood River Valley’s early photographers. His remarkable collection, which consists of thousands of photographs documenting early life in the region, was thankfully recovered and preserved, allowing us to see the past through his lens today. Born in Utah, Mallory moved to Hailey, Idaho when he was three and grew up to be a community member who documented so many events in the early days of the Wood River Valley. A popular event was the “Days of the Old West” parade, one of several celebrations many attended.
This year is the 142nd annual “Days of the Old West” in the Wood River Valley. An event that has been cherished and celebrated since 1883 with the 4th of July parade being led by the grand marshal, followed by floats, horses and much more that the community has to offer. The very first ‘Days of the Old West’ parade rolled down Hailey’s dusty Main Street on July 4, 1883, when miners and ranchers swapped work clothes for bunting and brass bands. The parade was led by the Miners Union and included Grand Marshal W.T. Riley and Assistant Marshals J.A. Rupert, Mans Coffin, Don McKay, and S.J. Friedman. Aside from a pause during World War II, the tradition has marched on every summer since. This year the grand marshal for the Independence Day parade was awarded to the Wood River Women’s Foundation which is celebrating its 20th anniversary of philanthropic work, positive community impact and pooled grant making for small businesses within the Wood River Valley.
Being awarded grand marshal isn’t just an honor – it’s a recognition bestowed for hometown pride, leadership, and contributions from those who were able to leave that lasting mark on our amazing community. Having familiar faces leading the parade is an amazing way to keep homage and tradition alive and well. It’s a truly special job for the Independence Day celebration in this valley. It’s not just someone waving to you from a convertible but instead, it’s your neighbor, former teacher, or the individual who helped pursue your goals or support you while trying to keep a small nonprofit going. It helps remind us that leadership and compassion doesn’t always happen in the public eye or on the big stage; it happens in boardrooms, backyards, and through acts of kindness, generosity and encouraging acts. When The Grand Marshal rounds that corner onto Main Street, it’s a shared moment of pride and deep embedded history—not just for the honoree, but for all in the community that knows them and their impact.
So, long before social media and text alerts, history rolled past on a summer day—reminding us of what we grew from and the traditions we are continuing to celebrate.
Note this story was originally published in July of 2025 in the Idaho Mountain Express.
