Revisiting Avery, Idaho

Over the past five years, I have long cherished the quaintness and unique history of a little town in the Idaho Panhandle, named Avery. This little hamlet along the St. Joe River is home to no more than 100 people, and hosts well over a hundred years of history.

In 1910, Idaho saw some of the largest, most severe wildfires ever witnessed at the time. The sheer magnitude and fury of the “Big Burn” was so profound, that it initiated an all-out war against wildfire from the United States government for the next seventy-plus years. Avery, being an important railroad hub before ascending St. Paul Pass into Montana- was host to a large Forest Service office where firefighters were stationed. As the fire went on, this well-ingrained railroad connection was crucial in evacuating dozens of families, firefighters, and hunters away from the blaze.

I have visited Avery several times, dating back to May of 2019. I am enthralled by the retelling of history Avery presents, and have taken my camera to capture different aspects of the area with each visit. In December of 2024, I decided to collect all the photos I’ve taken in this area to tell a story…