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Friday, July 4, is Independence Day, a major U. S. holiday. For participants in the Ezra Pound Conference, it will also be a "Hailey Day." We will forego the pleasures of the meeting room, and visit the town and the house where Pound was born. Our excursion will also take in some of the places in Ketchum that are associated with Ernest Hemingway.

DEPARTURE

Coaches will leave from the Sun Valley bus stop at 9:00 a.m. Passengers should arrive at the bus stop no later than 8:45.

The weather in central Idaho during July is difficult to predict. It may be hot or cold, wet or dry. Dress in "layers," and bring a jacket and long trousers or skirt if you plan to attend the rodeo in the evening. If the weather is warm, you may wish to bring a hat, sunblock, and a bottle of water.

HEMINGWAY IN KETCHUM

Ernest Hemingway spent his final years in Ketchum and died there in 1961. Our first stop will be the Hemingway Memorial, located near the Resort in a lovely grove of aspen and willow overlooking Trail Creek. A bronze bust of the writer was placed there in 1966.

From the Memorial, we will proceed to Hemingway's gravesite in the Ketchum Cemetery. His wife, Mary, is buried nearby.

Finally, we will see the house in which Hemingway spent his last years. Unfortunately, the house is not open to visitors.

HAILEY

We will arrive in Hailey in time for the Fourth of July parade, which begins at noon. Since 1883, when Homer Pound first came to town, the celebration of July 4th has been the most important community event of the year. Nowadays, the festivities include a pancake breakfast, a mock gunfight, a parade, an arts and crafts fair, and a rodeo and fireworks display.

For more information on THE POUNDS IN HAILEY, and a sample of Pound's writings about the place, click here.

THE EZRA POUND HOUSE

At 1:00 p.m. the annual Ezra Pound Ice Cream Social will begin on the lawn of the Pound home. Open to the public, this event is a fund-raising activity of the Pound Association. Visitors will be able to purchase lunch as well as an ice-cream dessert.

The house was built in 1883 at the corner of Second Avenue and Pine Street. Ezra was born there on October 30, 1885. Although the family left Idaho only fifteen months later, its members retained vivid memories of their Western sojourn. In later years, Pound expressed a desire to be buried in Hailey.

The Ezra Pound Association acquired the house in 1998. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Association hopes to restore the property to a semblance of its original condition, to promote it as a destination for cultural tourism, and to make it a center for creativity and cultural study.

Conference participants are encouraged to visit two other sites associated with the poet: the Episcopal Church and the Blaine County Museum. Both are within easy walking distance of the Pound house. Please complete your visits and return to the house by 3:00 p.m.

THE EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Located at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Bullion Street, this is Hailey's oldest church. It was the Pound family's place of worship, where Homer's sister, Florence, often provided the music. The first services were held on Christmas Eve of 1885, and Ezra is said to have been the first child ever christened in the church.

THE BLAINE COUNTY MUSEUM

Located at the corner of Main and Galena Streets, the Blaine County Museum documents the history of Hailey and the surrounding region. One exhibit is devoted to the life and work of Ezra Pound. Among the items on display is a life-mask of Pound donated by his daughter, Mary de Rachewiltz. This display is the work of the Ezra Pound Association.

AFTERNOON PRESENTATION

Between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. a presentation entitled "The Future of the Ezra Pound House" will take place on the lawn. Mary de Rachewiltz and members of the Ezra Pound Association will celebrate the acquisition of the house, explain the planned renovation of the property, and outline a vision of its future. They will also describe the history and activities of the Association, and conduct a discussion of future goals and projects.

For further information on THE EZRA POUND ASSOCIATION, click here.

EVENING ARRANGEMENTS

After the Association's presentation, those who do not plan to attend the rodeo and fireworks display will return to Sun Valley by coach. Those who intend to spend the evening in Hailey are free to explore the town and have an early supper. We will depart for the Rodeo Grounds from the Pound house at 6:30 p.m.

RODEO AND FIREWORKS DISPLAY

Organized by the Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club, the Hailey Rodeo and Fireworks display is the culmination of the town's Fourth of July celebration. Spectators will see authentic Western rodeo events, such as bronco riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, and barrel racing. The rodeo begins at 7:00 p.m. It is followed around 10:20 by a spectacular display of Independence Day fireworks.

After the fireworks, coaches will return to Sun Valley, arriving probably between 11:30 p.m. and midnight.

Seating for the rodeo is on outdoor bleachers. Bring a cushion if you will need one, and wear a jacket and long trousers or skirt. At an altitude of 5000 feet above sea level, temperatures cool quickly once the sun has gone down.

The rodeo and fireworks display is an optional conference event. If you wish to attend, please indicate your choice on the conference registration form and add $10 per person to your registration fee. Those who do not register for the rodeo in advance must obtain their tickets of admission independently.

For further information on the rodeo and other Fourth of July activities, call the Hailey Chamber of Commerce at 208-788-2700.




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