Friday, July 2, 2004

Hail to the Ladies of Heritage Court

Royal quintet leads Hailey’s Independence Day parade

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By MEGAN THOMAS
Express Staff Writer

The Hailey Independence Day Mile Long Parade returns Sunday, July 4, to downtown Hailey at noon. The parade ventures down Hailey’s Main Street taunting its theme "Celebrate Idaho’s Hometown in the Mountains."

This year, the Blaine County’s own 2004 Heritage Court will regally guide the procession as the Grand Marshals.

The Heritage Court includes five Blaine County women who were recently crowned "Ladies of the Court" by the Blaine County Historical Museum. The tiaras came for each of the women’s life long contributions to the history and heritage of Blaine County. The group of women, clad in gingham gowns accepted their honors at the Blaine County Heritage Court on Sunday, June 27.

The Ladies of the Court include Mary Jane Griffith Conger, 78, of Ketchum, Billie Buhler, 90, of Hailey, Verda O’Crowley, 74, of Carey, Lillian Wright, 84, of Bellevue and Marge Heiss, 94, of Sun Valley.

Now this royal court will ride through Hailey’s Main Street in a horse-drawn carriage. The wagon is a Vis-à-vis carriage that was originally built by Amish craftsmen to carry "Ladies of Fashion."

This year, the women of the court will define the county’s latest trend—honoring life long contributions to the county’s history and heritage.

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Mary Jane Griffith Cogner epitomizes the vitality of life celebrated in the valley. Given her deep Ketchum roots it’s no surprise. Cogner was born in Ketchum, the granddaughter to one of Ketchum’s founding fathers Al Griffith.

Mary Jane Griffith Cogner

Cogner grew up as an avid skier and skater, evolving into a leading activist. Her involvement spans from her instrumental efforts to start the Heritage Museum in Ketchum to her commitment to the Ketchum Planning and Zoning Board.

"We need a highway plan for the future. There should be a 20- to 30-year plan for mass transportation. These are the things that have driving me for the past 20 years. We don’t want to be anyplace USA," Cogner shared insightfully.

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The next honoree is Billie Buhler. Buhler is a third generation Hailey resident, who grew up in the home that once belonged to Ezra Pound, now the Hailey Cultural Center. Today, she lives next door, where she pursues her passion for quilting.

Billie Buhler

"I’m a professional quilter," Buhler said. "I’ve made over 100 quilts for different people."

Buhler quilts for pleasure and teaches courses in quilting at the College of Southern Idaho campus in Hailey.

She also worked along the way as a switchboard operator for Mountain States Telephone and as a deputy sheriff for 13 years. Buhler also raised three sons with her husband Harold.

She also spends her time visiting with friends at the Blaine County Senior Center and is active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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Verda O’Crowley travels to town from Carey. O’Crowley was born in Jerome, Idaho and spent much of her adult life in Picabo working for the Picabo Livestock Company. While living on the ranch, O’Crowley met her husband, Harry. She had five children and raised a foster child all while working primarily as the ranch cook, but also doing side work on irrigation pipes as well.

Verda O’Crowley

"I would get up at 4 a.m. to cook breakfast, then lunch and supper," she remembers. She cooked for up to 40 people, transforming the rundown shed into a productive cookhouse along the way.

After retiring her apron, O’Crowley and her husband moved to Carey, which is home today. These days, O’Crowley is active in the Carey Senior Center and the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints. She is the proud grandmother of 25 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

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Lillian Wright represents Bellevue for the county. Wright was born on her family’s farm in Slaughter House Canyon, east of Bellevue. After graduating from Gannett High School, she married Charles Wright and the couple made their home in Bellevue, where they raised four children.

Lillian Wright

Wright reflected that her favorite thing in life was "raising the family and seeing them accomplish what they did."

Over the years the family has blossomed, Wright is now the proud grandmother of seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Wright continues to remain active in the community, as a member of the Civic Club and the Bellevue Community Church. "I was always willing to do anything I could do for the community." Wright said reflecting on her contributions to the valley.

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Marge Heiss completes the court as a representative for Sun Valley.

"I still love Ketchum despite the many changes," Heiss said.

Marge Heiss

Heiss has lived to see many changes in the community and was indirectly involved in transforming the sleepy mining town into a resort community.

When Count Felix Schaffgotsch arrived in the 1930’s in search of a ski resort site for Averell Harriman, Heiss and her sister strapped on the 11-foot-long wooden skis and took the Austrian on a tour of their father’s property. Soon there after, her father, Ernest Brass, sold his land to Harriman. The Sun Valley resort and a good portion of Elkhorn now sit on that land.

As Sun Valley boomed, Heiss lived with her husband Clark and their family. The couple raised three daughters and came to the couple’s cabin in Ketchum for the summers. Heiss would ride her horse throughout the valley.

Speaking to her longevity, Heiss said, "It was being raised in the good fresh air and the clear skies."

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.