Past Tense: July 11, 2013
65 years ago – 1948
A surprised carpenter, visiting from Pomona, won a new Ford in the Gold Strike celebration. His winning ticket was pulled from the 4,750 sold.
60 years ago – 1953
A three-man survey crew headed into the hot wilderness to determine the number of bighorn sheep in game refuge 4-D.
55 years ago – 1958
A group of Pine Cove residents met to discuss plans for forming a volunteer fire department for the area.
50 years ago – 1963
California Electric Power Co. announced plans for a second power line to serve the Hill.
45 years ago – 1968
For the first time, Idyllwild had a resident priest. Father Joseph Finnerty came here from Fort Yuma.
40 years ago – 1973
Voters within the boundaries of the Idyllwild Fire Protection District were deciding on a proposed tax increase of 30.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The district claimed the increase was needed in order to maintain the quality of protection.
35 years ago – 1978
A fire that destroyed two homes on Marion View Drive was apparently caused by a nail which, three years prior, had been pounded into a wall to hang a picture. The nail was touching an electrical wire and eventually caused a short circuit.
30 years ago – 1983
Idyllwild, Hurkey Creek and McCall county campgrounds increased camping fees.
25 years ago – 1988
Jeri Sue Haney was the newly elected president of the Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce.
20 years ago – 1993
Jose Torres, a Riverside County firefighter from San Jacinto, was the winner of the pie-eating contest Granny’s Pies sponsored. He ate more than four blueberry pies.
15 years ago – 1998
The R-Ranch, a proposed joint-ownership resort facility in Garner Valley, caused concern in the community. Ranchers and homeowners were worried that an influx of up to 1,800 vacationers to the 160-acre site would permanently alter the peace and tranquility of the valley.
10 years ago – 2003
Two baby bald eagles, believed to be the first born wild in Southern California since the 1930s, were observed at Lake Hemet.
5 years ago – 2008
Due to housing market conditions, the Riverside County Assessor’s Office began to review the value of properties purchased within the previous year in an effort to determine if value reductions were warranted under Proposition 8, which allowed for lowering assessments for tax purposes when the market value is falling.
1 year ago – 2012
At a special meeting of the County Service Area 38 Advisory Committee, Idyllwild Fire Commissioner Dr. Charles “Chip” Schelly addressed the committee and the community lamenting the lack of agreement, comity and teamwork between Pine Cove and the Idyllwild Fire Department.
