Published March 28, 1958, this photo shows the original Idyllwild Post Office, located in the building currently occupied by the Candy Cupboard and Idyllwild Beauty Salon and Family Hair Care. The caption reads: “The Idyllwild Post Office is the gathering spot for weekenders and residents alike, when the morning mail comes in. It is the traditional center of casual community activities where friends meet to talk or make a coffee date. On the Post Office porch is a community bulletin board upon which are advertised everything from reducing machines to relaxing gadgets to the desire for the return of a lost pet.” Photo credit Gray/Idyllwild Town Crier

65 years ago – 1948
As the Lions entertained in honor of their daughters, Ernie Maxwell contributed a chalk talk on “Feminine Fashion.”

60 years ago – 1953
Two bald eagles were frequenting the Foster Lake area.

55 years ago – 1958
The Chamber of Commerce listed public restrooms among its study projects for the year.

45 years ago – 1968
Members of the Idyllwild Youth Club served a spaghetti dinner to raise funds for Town Hall improvements.

40 years ago – 1973
Admission prices at the Rustic Theatre were $1.50 for adults, $1 for students and 75 cents for children.

35 years ago – 1978
General Telephone officials said they would pump $4 million into their Hemet switching office serving the mountain area. Long-distance calls jumped more than 56 percent from 4.7 million calls in December 1975 to 7.3 million in December 1977.

30 years ago – 1983
It was formally announced that Desert Sun School would change its name to the Elliott-Pope Preparatory School.

25 years ago – 1988
A campaign to raise $15,000 for the planned Idyllwild-area emergency radio station was launched by three service organizations — the Soroptimists, Lions and Rotary.

20 years ago – 1993
Business owners and motorists were kept guessing as to why about 100 sheriff’s deputies dressed in black with weapons surrounded a vacant building. The Emergency Services Team of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department was conducting a practice hostage scenario.

15 years ago – 1998
About 200 people attended a champagne reception to celebrate the grand opening of the Idyllwild Gallery of Fine Art.

10 years ago – 2003
Idyllwild residents hugged in the lobby of Riverside’s County Administrative Building when Paul Black was denied his Conditional Use Permit for the water exportation business he operated. The county had estimated that Black was exporting 28,000 gallons of water a day from his land.

5 years ago – 2008
It was announced that Idyllwild School Principal Emily Shaw would be moving on to be principal at Hemet High School.

1 year ago – 2012
About 150 Hill residents attended a community meeting about a significant recent rise in local property crimes.

Similar Posts

  • Past Tense: December 1, 2016

    55 years ago – 1961  The Forest Service conducted an inventory of timber in the May Valley area where a critical insect problem exsisted to appraise value and quality of lumber. 50 years ago – 1966  Town Hall celebrated its 20th year with exhibits, a buffet and entertainment. 45 years ago – 1971  By enacting…

  • |

    Past Tense: March 14, 2019

    70 years ago – 1949 Caretakers of the Bunker Ranch found themselves snowbound for seven weeks with dwindling provisions. 65 years ago – 1954 The Isaac Walton League built and installed 14 signs to warn motorists about deer on local highways. 60 years ago – 1959 More than 60 mountaineers attended a workshop, sponsored by…

  • Past Tense

    75 years ago – 1948 “Don’t look for the Town Crier next week,” advised the editor. “We’re skipping every other week to do our winter chores.” 70 years ago – 1953 The Marais-Miranda folk opera “African Heartbeat” premiered at the Bowman, but the weather was so cold the audience huddled in blankets. 65 years ago…

  • |

    Past Tense: September 16, 2016

    65 years ago – 1956As summer was drawing to a close, many Idyllwild businesses went on a winter schedule, including the Town Crier, which published every two weeks in the winter. 60 years ago – 1961Drought conditions, which led to an infestation of destructive insects, were causing trees to die at an alarming rate in…

  • Past Tense: August 6, 2015

    65 years ago – 1950 The director of ISOMATA (now Idyllwild Arts) announced that a four-week workshop session was canceled because a number of the male students notified the school they could not attend due to the “unsettled world condition.” 60 years ago – 1955 Ladies of the Guild were hard at work getting booths…