Courtly Corbin Devalon and his gracious Helen celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by inviting practically all of Idyllwild to their Rockdale Drive home in June 1973. The party featured both a bride’s and a groom’s cake.       File photo
Courtly Corbin Devalon and his gracious Helen celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by inviting practically all of Idyllwild to their Rockdale Drive home in June 1973. The party featured both a bride’s and a groom’s cake. File photo

65 years ago - 1951

Dutton’s Corner Store, owned by Leigh and Maggie Dutton, opened its doors at Fern Valley Corners on the site of the former Fern Valley Market.

60 years ago - 1956

At a ceremony held at the little Native American cemetery at Cahuilla, a marker on the grave of Juan Diego was unveiled. Diego was the lover of Ramona, also buried there.

50 years ago - 1966

Dolores Bergman, first director of the Town Hall recreation program created by the newly formed service area that contracted with the Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce for use of Town Hall, reported that in addition to  daily activities for children, adults and children could take craft, art, music, pottery and chess classes, attend nature talks and take guided hikes. There was also a Friday night “teen time,” with records, refreshments and games, and a community campfire with entertainment on Saturday nights.

40 years ago - 1976

The endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep were given another 11,459 acres to roam, thanks to the actions of the Nature Conservancy, a private protective society that engineered the purchase of nearly 17 square miles in the Santa Rosa Mountains.

30 years ago - 1986

There was a new taxi cab service in Idyllwild, the Village Cab Co. In addition to transporting people to local and off-Hill destinations, owners Kat and Barry Davis delivered pets and parcels.

20 years ago - 1996

With the Hill just getting back to normal after the Bee Canyon Fire, firefighters from many agencies were battling two more — the Wolfskill and Cabazon fires. More than 10,300 acres were burned and Highway 243 was closed near the Twin Pines Boys Ranch, which had to be evacuated.

15  years ago - 2001

The Board of Governors of the Idyllwild Arts Foundation feted more than 100 people after a successful five-year campaign that raised $9.3 million for expansion and renovation of campus facilities.

5 years ago - 2011

On Wednesday, Aug. 10, Idyllwild lost one of its early residents with the passing of Inie Wilson. She was 96 years old. 18-year-old Inie Wilson arrived in Idyllwild in 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression.

1 year ago - 2015

Chief Patrick Reitz, Idyllwild Fire Protection District, confirmed his department responded to reports of a bonfire in Alvin Meadows in back of the Idyllwild Arts campus. The blaze coincided with the first night of the annual Jazz in the Pines festival. The fire was allegedly started by local youths at a known local party spot.