Past Tense: Nov. 10, 2011

65 years ago – 1946
The E.H. Kincaides bought the Cole house nearing completion on the corner of River Drive.
60 years ago – 1951
Building started on the new Idyllwild Motel, a 10-unit structure on Pine Crest behind La Cantina.
55 years ago – 1956
An Arabian horse show climaxed Palm Springs’ Western Week. Mary Nelson of Idyllwild was chair of the show, with Claire Woodmouse assisting.
50 years ago – 1961
The Alandale Water Company filed articles of incorporation in Sacramento to supply water service of approximately 900 acres in the vicinity of Stone Creek.
45 years ago – 1966
After a 34-year search, Mrs. Elbert McKissack of Mountain Center located her mother in a Cleveland suburb. McKissack had been raised by foster parents.
• • •
Mac and Paddy McClenahan of Anaheim came to the Hill for a vacation and ended up buying Singingwood Motel.
40 years ago – 1971
Vandals broke into the Idyllwild Elementary School, stealing a broken pair of scissors and the secretary’s apple.
• • •
A cold month of October ended with the temperature dipping to 11 degrees. Idyllwild also saw a second dusting of snow.
• • •
Highway 243, the Banning-Idyllwild Highway, was transferred to the state. Previously it had been part of the Riverside County Road System.
35 years ago – 1976
Legal questions on some wording in the draft REMAP were requiring county counsel’s opinion. The questionable paragraph attempted to protect unconforming areas under the new plan.
30 years ago – 1981
Phil Hodges, Gordon Lee and Bill Whitener were elected to the three positions on the Idyllwid Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners. Bruce Adams was re-elected to another term as a trustee on the Hemet Unified School District Board.
25 years ago – 1986
A 3.1 earthquake centered 18 miles southwest of Palm Springs and a 3.2 earthquake centered 19 miles west of Palm Springs were both felt on the Hill the same day, Nov. 3.
20 years ago – 1991
More than 800 people joined in the carnival on Halloween night. Plans were to make it bigger for the next year.
15 years ago – 1996
Idyllwild residents voted down the controversial Measure Q, a parcel fee to suport a recreation center on the Hill.
10 years ago – 2001
A 5.1 earthquake centered 10 miles southeast of Anza hit just before midnight Oct. 30.
5 years ago – 2006
Chamber of Commerce 1st Vice President Geoffrey Caine announced James Campbell as the new Director of Town Hall Recreation. Campbell was unanimously choosen from a pool of applicants to replace Bob Lewis who had recently accepted a position with Riverside County.
1 year ago – 2010
Mountain Disaster Preparedness (MDP) staged its first ever night exercise at the Disaster Aid Station on Saunders Meadow Road, near Astrocamp.