Past Tense: August 28, 2014
File photo
65 years ago – 1949
The fire chief begged eager, would-be volunteers not to jump on the fire truck when it was on the way to a fire.
60 years ago – 1954
Locals were raising funds to donate to the March of Dimes to combat an alarming increase in polio cases.
50 years ago – 1964
County and state health and pollution officials met with business and civic leaders to consider solutions for sewage disposal. They said a system would be needed within the next two years to handle increased water loads.
40 years ago – 1974
A fire that started on the Soboba Indian Reservation quickly raced up the mountain, ultimately burning 18,000 acres. Residents of Pine Cove were evacuated. It was the worst fire on the Hill since 1943.
30 years ago – 1984
Construction began on the new Idyllwild Fire Station on Maranatha Drive.
25 years ago – 1989
What had previously been an unnamed part of the mountain range between San Jacinto and Jean peaks was named the Newton B. Drury Peak after the man who for decades worked to save and protect state parks. Drury was called the “father of the Mount San Jacinto Wilderness.”
20 years ago – 1994
A public memorial service was held for Ernie Maxwell, community leader and founder of the Town Crier. Maxwell died in his sleep at the age of 83 on Aug. 20.
15 years ago – 1999
The first meeting of the Idyllwild School Expansion Project Planning Committee convened to discuss building plans for a new gymnasium and performing arts space and eight new classrooms.
1 year ago – 2013
The number of wildland fires and the unusually dry weather caused the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group to increase the national fire preparedness level to its highest point, PL-5, which signaled very high activity.
