From left, Cecil Tozier, Jimmy McCaghgren and Idyllwild School Principal Lee Lybarger in 1961 when the school band was started.File photo
From left, Cecil Tozier, Jimmy McCaghgren and Idyllwild School Principal Lee Lybarger in 1961 when the school band was started. File photo

65 years ago – 1949

Caretakers of the Bunker Ranch found themselves snowbound for seven weeks with dwindling provisions.

 

60 years ago – 1954

The Isaac Walton League built and installed 14 signs to warn motorists about deer on local highways.

 

55 years ago – 1959

More than 60 mountaineers attended a workshop, sponsored by Forest Lumber, about how to get the most from their chainsaws.

 

50 years ago – 1964

The Idyllwild Youth Symphony left for London and a concert tour of Wales.

 

45 years ago – 1969

Mrs. Bertha Chadwick Lichtwald, known as “Anza’s Mother,” died at age 88. The community’s first postmaster was instrumental in securing post office approval for the name Anza in 1924. Previously, the community was generally known as Bautista or Hamilton.

 

40 years ago – 1974

The energy crisis was cited as the main cause of a sharp decline in residential construction. It was reported that not a single building permit was issued in the mountain area during February.

 

35 years ago – 1979

More than 1,900 questionnaires were mailed to property owners by the Idyllwild Fire Protection District commissioners. Of the 586 returned, 412 favored paying an approximate $50 surcharge to maintain fire services as they were.

 

30 years ago – 1984

Four cases of heartworm were discovered in Hill dogs. Dog owners were urged to have their dogs checked by a veterinarian.

 

25 years ago – 1989

Modern technology came to the Hill when the Security Pacific Bank installed a Ready Teller (ATM) Machine.

 

20 years ago – 1994

A surveillance camera was installed in the Idyllwild Post Office lobby in response to after-hours vandalism.

 

15 years ago – 1999

The community was stunned by the generosity of the late Ann Baerwald of Idyllwild when it was announced that she had bequeathed $100,000 to the Idyllwild Community Fund and $50,000 each to the Soroptimists and the Mountain Community Patrol.

 

10 years ago – 2004

A meeting was held to get input from kids regarding the final choice on ramp selection for the soon-to-be-built skate park.

 

5 years ago – 2009

After a Riverside County Superior Court jury handed down a guilty verdict for multiple arsons and the murder of five firefighters to a Beaumont mechanic, the prosecution began the penalty phase of the trial in determining between death or life in prison without possibility of parole for Raymond Lee Oyler, 38.

 

1 year ago – 2013

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck the Hill just before 10 a.m. Monday, March 11. Initially reported as a 5.2 quake by the U.S. Geological Survey, the temblor was followed by six aftershocks, the largest of which was a magnitude 2.7 at 10:36 a.m.

 

 

Similar Posts

  • Past Tense: 11.28.2013

    65 years ago – 1948 Hollywood came to Idyllwild when the Rustic Theatre presented the first showing of “One Sunday Afternoon,” starring Dennis Morgan. Morgan made an appearance at each showing.   60 years ago – 1953 Idyllwild Rotary became an official club. The organization had been forming for about a year.   55 years…

  • Past Tense: Jan. 9, 2014

    65 years ago – 1949 A cold snap brought a high of 30 degrees and a low of 7 degrees one day, freezing pipes and Mrs. Eric Holm’s breath on her coat. Emax reported that even the squirrels were shivering 60 years ago – 1954 The California Public Utilities Commission approved Idyllwild Water Company’s request…

  • |

    Past Tense: August 7, 2014

    65 years ago – 1949 The Women’s Guild of the Community Presbyterian Church was raising money via bake sales for a new roof for the manse.   60 years ago – 1954 Barbara Wilson was honored at a community bridal shower at the Idyllwild Inn. Her marriage to Bud Hunt was scheduled for October.  …

  • |

    Past Tense: February 27, 2020

    70 years ago – 1950 Eleanor Johnson’s long-cherished project of beautifying Village Circle got underway. 65 years ago – 1955 Ted Belden filed a patent on the special design for the Pinecraft “Idyllwild Chair.” It was a fitted-to-size chair proportioned to small, average or big people. 60 years ago – 1960 The Christian Science Society,…

  • | |

    Past Tense: September 26, 2019

    70 years ago – 1949 The Lucks, who manned the community telephone switchboard, figured the average number of calls serviced daily during the summer was 1,800. 65 years ago – 1954 The Idyllwild School term opened with 166 students, a 20% increase over the previous year. 60 years ago – 1959 Bow and arrow expert…