Liam Guthrie

By Brigid Miller, Museum Community Engagement Manager

In the US, the month of March is celebrated as Women’s History Month, and International Women’s Day is recognized on the 8^th of March this year. The Wood River Valley has been shaped by incredible women past and present, and in this feature, I wanted to highlight a group of women from our collection.

Also occurring in March is the start of baseball season, from the MLB to little leagues across the country. Pictured here is the Ketchum women’s baseball team in front of the Dollarhide House in 1910. The women in the photograph are believed to be Frances Wilson, Delia Rogers (or Olive Clark), Annie Lombardina, Kate Lombardina Bonning, Chic Reid, and Roxie Rummel Hansen. Although the women are holding a football, based on their uniforms and another photo from our collection in which they are holding baseball bats, this group can be identified as a women’s baseball team.

As highlighted by the movie “A League of Their Own,” during WWII the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was started since a majority of men were away at war. This professional league operated from 1943-1954 and was built off decades of women’s teams and leagues across the US. Women, like those pictured here, had been playing baseball since the 1800s. Women’s colleges, like Vassar College in New York, were known for organizing baseball teams as early as 1866.

While we do not know much about the Ketchum women’s baseball team in 1910, it is clear that they were a part of a larger movement of women playing the sport. As we celebrate women throughout history this month, as well as the start of baseball season, it is fun to think about the inspiring and impactful women in the Wood River Valley area.

Note this story was originally published in March of 2024 in the Idaho Mountain Express.

By Ellie Norman, Wood River Museum Collections Specialist

Within the pages of the Center for Regional History’s historic photograph collection, a captivating snapshot from 1950s Sun Valley comes to life. This photograph from c. 1958 captures a spirited moment as couples twirl and sway to the lively tunes of The Ram Trio, a beloved local band that left a lasting mark on the entertainment scene during that era.

Comprising the musical talents of Charles Macak, Larry LaPrise, and Tafit Baker, The Ram Trio found their rhythm as the house band at the renowned Ram Bar. This establishment, nestled in the heart of Sun Valley, became a cherished haven for the après-ski crowd seeking an exciting blend of live music and social mingling.

The photograph captures the essence of a bygone era, showcasing the joyous energy emanating from the dance floor. The revelry is palpable as The Ram Trio, led by Larry LaPrise, enchants the audience with their melodies. Years before this photograph was taken, LaPrise left an indelible mark on musical history by crafting the novelty song-and-dance number “Hokey Pokey” in 1949. 

In a 1992 interview with the Times-News in Twin Falls, LaPrise shared insights into the origins of this iconic tune. “The Hokey Pokey is like a square dance, really,” he remarked. “You turn around. You shake it all about. Everyone is in a circle, and it gets them all involved.”

The photograph not only captures a moment of carefree joy but also serves as a visual time capsule, transporting us back to an era when The Ram Trio’s music echoed through the halls of the Ram Bar, creating memories that endure through the ages. As one looks upon this enchanting image, they are reminded of the timeless allure of music and dance, transcending generations and connecting us to the vibrant history of Sun Valley.

Note this story was originally published in February of 2024 in the Idaho Mountain Express.

Mary Tyson, Director of the Jeanne Rodger Lane Center for Regional History

In the late 1800s, Idaho was home to a substantial Chinese community, drawn by the allure of gold and opportunities in railroad construction. While the written history of mining companies and early prospectors is well-documented in the Wood River Valley, details about the Chinese community remain scarce because anti-Chinese sentiment eventually drove them out. A poignant glimpse into this history comes from this photo of an abandoned log building bearing a sign for Major Hong King Wash House—a modest shed that once housed a laundry business.

This tangible link to the past is especially moving, shedding light on the Chinese residents of Ketchum and Major Hong King’s business. The laundry’s unassuming structure contrasts with grander narratives of the silver mining era, offering concrete evidence of a community history largely missing historical records.

A court case from 1897 adds another layer to Major Hong King’s story, involving a dispute with Quong Que Hing over money owed for work and a potato trade. This court case shows that Major Hong King grew potatoes as well. Idaho’s early Chinese immigrants played a role in potato farming—a legacy the state is renowned for today.

As we approach the Lunar New Year on January 22, marking the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese Zodiac, the Wood River Valley commemorates its rich history. Take a moment to look at the public art piece, Prosperity Mountain by Gemma Daggatt, installed last October on Walnut and Main St. in Hailey. It pays tribute to the Chinese community that once flourished here.

Note this story was originally published in January of 2024 in the Idaho Mountain Express.

By Brigid Miller, Museum Community Engagement Manager

When Union Pacific Board Chairman Averell Harriman envisioned Sun Valley, he saw ski competitions as a means to attract athletes and others to this place, as well as a way to promote Sun Valley. These competitions included downhill, slalom, combined, and ski jumping – and Harriman’s vision came true. Sun Valley ski competitions and the famed ski school brought many accomplished athletes, Olympians, and celebrities to the area.

One of those Olympians was Stein Eriksen, an Olympian gold medalist from Norway. Eriksen is pictured here performing a front flip on Dollar Mountain in 1953. Outside of his Olympic and World Championship successes, he was well known for being able to do flips and other tricks on skis, which helped to popularize and inspire freestyle aerial skiing.

Eriksen moved to Sun Valley in 1953 and worked at the Sun Valley Ski School for a year before moving to Boyne Mountain in Michigan to spread his love of skiing there.  

As we sit at the start of the 2023-24 ski season, it is inspiring to think of all the skiers, like Stein Eriksen, who skied on these mountains before us and helped to shape this place and this sport.

Note this story was originally published in December of 2023 in the Idaho Mountain Express.

By Kelley Moulton, Regional History Librarian

It is once again time for the Sun Valley Winter Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, hosted by the Jeanne Rodger Lane Center for Regional History at The Community Library. Two previous inductees grace this image, Leif Odmark who was inducted in 2010 and Janette Burr Johnson from the Class of 2011.

Both longtime Wood River Valley residents who were well known for their skiing contributions. Swedish born Odmark or as some might have known him “Mr. Sun Valley”, was a very prominent cross-country skier and founded the Sun Valley Nordic Ski School/Touring Center in 1970. Johnson, who was named to the 1952 Olympic Ski Team, would compete on the world ski stage across Europe and the United States before becoming a ski instructor at Sun Valley in the 1960s. In this image, Odmark and Johnson are working out a stunt on Bald Mountain for the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour in 1958. The two would act as stunt doubles for Lucille Ball and Fernando Lamas as their characters slide down the mountain.

The Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2023 will be held in the John A. and Carole O. Moran Lecture Hall at The Community Library at 6 p.m. on December 7^th, 2023. Registration is required for this event and registration information can be found at www.comlib.org. If you are unable to attend, the ceremony will also be livestreamed and recorded. A reception will follow at 7 p.m. at The Wood River Museum of History and Culture and is open to the public.

Note this story was originally published in November of 2023 in the Idaho Mountain Express.