Past Tense: August 8, 2013
65 years ago – 1948
The district school board accepted a bid of $80,272 for a new Idyllwild School building. Work was to be completed in six months.
60 years ago – 1953
The first production of a Shakespearean play in the history of Idyllwild occurred when “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was presented at the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts (ISOMATA).
55 years ago – 1958
Residents were invited to attend the dedication of a new Olympic-sized swimming pool at Buckhorn Camp.
50 years ago – 1963
Showing on the big screen at the Rustic Theatre was “Bye Bye Birdie,”starring Janet Leigh and Dick Van Dyke.
45 years ago – 1968
William Stahlberg was named to replace Robert Waggoner as supervisor of Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Stahlberg transferred from Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
40 years ago – 1973
A rare and valuable violin, made in 1751 by Carlos Antonio Testore, was given to ISOMATA by Mrs. Mary Stow Warring, Desert Sun School director.
35 years ago – 1978
Area residents rated fire protection at the top of the list of community needs at the Community Development Block Grant meeting.
30 years ago – 1983
The Pine Cove Water District board approved a budget of $341,500 — an increase of nearly 48 percent over the prior year’s budget.
25 years ago – 1988
Many real estate signs on properties in the Big Cedar Glen area were taken down as a result of action taken by the Big Cedar Glen Property Owners Association. Members were concerned that the 19 “for sale” signs in the three-street neighborhood created a depression-like atmosphere.
20 years ago – 1993
The temple of the Idyllwild branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was nearing completion.
15 years ago – 1998
The tragic loss of legendary children’s entertainer Shari Lewis was mourned on the Hill where Lewis and her husband, Jeremy Tarcher, had a second home for seven years.
10 years ago – 2003
Local peace advocates held a peace march to mark the 100th day after President Bush declared war on Iraq.
5 years ago – 2008
Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack’s bill, H.R. 4841, settling the decades-long dispute between the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and several local water districts, was signed into law.
1 year ago – 2012
New Idyllwild Fire Protection District Fire Chief Patrick Reitz took the oath of office from Riverside County Third District Supervisor Jeff Stone.
