Past Tense: March 21, 2013
65 years ago – 1948
Fern Valley residents were about to vote on a $250,000 bond issue to purchase the Fern Valley Mutual Water System.
60 years ago – 1953
A team of forestry insect experts from the U.S. Bureau of Entomology toured the district and reported that the local National Forest area was in good shape. Control of bark beetles here was commended.
55 years ago – 1958
The Rev. E. Dow Hoffman of Pine Cove donated a bell for the Community Church. The bell was originally installed in the First Methodist Church of Upland in 1899.
50 years ago – 1963
Lee Lybarger, principal of Idyllwild School, was named “Man of the Year” by the American Legion Post 800. He was praised for his efforts in developing a band at the school.
45 years ago – 1968
Letters mailed from Idyllwild bore a special Bear Flag Festival cancellation. And Idyllwild merchants were accepting wooden nickels promoting the festival.
40 years ago – 1973
“This is getting to be ridiculous,” moaned real estate broker Howard Hall, as snow fell on Idyllwild five days out of seven.
35 years ago – 1978
U.S. Postal Service officials signed an agreement with Mary Nelson, owner and developer of Strawberry Square Shopping Center, to lease a 4,030-square-foot building for a new Idyllwild post office.
30 years ago – 1983
Representatives from the Idyllwild Fire Protection District, Pine Cove County Fire Department, California Department of Forestry and Hemet Valley Ambulance Service Inc. met to iron out their differences concerning ambulance service on the Hill.
25 years ago – 1988
A U.S. Forest Service crew was cutting regrowth on the Strawberry Fuelbreak between Inspiration Point and the Grotto.
20 years ago – 1993
Thieves broke in through an air-conditioning duct in the post office’s ceiling and made off with about $3,000 in coins and stamps, and the contents of about 20 packages.
15 years ago – 1998
A couple of tourists “dropped in” for brunch in Idyllwild. Helicopter pilot Larry Etchandy of La Cresta, accompanied by his date, landed his helicopter in the parking lot of the Hemet Federal Savings bank (now known as BBVA Compass).
10 years ago – 2003
Locals Bruce and Brian Kaufman snowboarded from Tahquitz Peak to Humber Park.
5 years ago – 2008
Norm Walker, fire chief for the San Jacinto Ranger District, retired after more than 10 years with the district.
1 year ago – 2012
Dr. Julia Bucci had been appointed the new dean of academics for Idyllwild Arts Academy. In April, she changed her mind and the school continued a search for a new dean.
