Past Tense: April 11, 2013
65 years ago – 1948
The Town Crier noted evidence that the dog population was getting out of hand: “Many pets are apparently dissatisfied with their homes and prefer just to hang around the post office.”
60 years ago – 1953
County Civil Defense Coordinator Col. O.S. Dresher told a Town Hall audience that the community would not be used as a refugee center for city dwellers in the event of an atomic attack or invasion.
55 years ago – 1958
The Idyllwild Arts Foundation was inviting donations to help build a swimming pool on campus.
50 years ago – 1963
A light rain settled the dust in town, but the season’s moisture total amounted to only 11.32 inches.
45 years ago – 1968
An earthquake of 6.5 magnitude rocked the Hill, but only minor damage was reported in Idyllwild and Pine Cove.
40 years ago – 1973
The first meeting was held of a group of women planning to form a local chapter of the Soroptimist International Association.
35 years ago – 1978
The West Area Planning Council approved the 610-space Baldy Mountain Recreational Vehicle Park proposed near Mountain Center by Jack Garner, Garner Valley rancher.
30 years ago – 1983
A 147-foot pine tree on Tahquitz Drive was declared a public hazard and was cut down by Mike Pearson, owner of Pearson’s Wood Service in Mountain Center.
25 years ago – 1988
Because of changes made in General Telephone’s equipment in Idyllwild, Hill residents would be able to have a choice of long-distance telephone service providers.
20 years ago – 1993
Plans were being made for the fourth-annual Timber Festival sponsored by the Lions Club and held at Idyllwild County Park. One of the competitions would be the greased pole climb.
15 years ago – 1998
Local resident Conor O’Farrell starred in the HBO mini-series, “From the Earth to the Moon,” which told the story of space missions that led to the United States putting a man on the moon. He could be seen in episodes one, five and eight.
10 years ago – 2003
Elizabeth Monson of Pine Cove, in support of her Jewish faith and culture, spent three weeks of her vacation volunteering in the Israeli Army.
5 years ago – 2008
Declining interest, aging membership and an inability to recruit new members was hampering the Idyllwild Lions Club’s activities.
1 year ago – 2012
In response to a crime escalation in Idyllwild, Supervisor Jeff Stone assembled top public safety agency officials to talk to residents about issues of crime and public safety on the Hill. Few attended.
