Past Tense: September 18, 2014

65 years ago – 1949

The Chamber of Commerce reported a profit from its Gold Rush celebration at Town Hall.

 

60 years ago – 1954

Playing at the Rustic Theatre was “Betrayed,” starring Clark Gable and Lana Turner.

 

55 years ago – 1959

The U.S. Forest Service announced the reactivation of the Thomas Mountain lookout station. The lookout had been abandoned after World War II when it was used as a plane-spotting post.

 

50 years ago – 1964

Idyllwild Fire Department was conducting a benefit drive to secure radios for firefighters’ cars.

 

45 years ago – 1969

Deer season opened and Bonnar Blong, state wildlife manager, reported that deer were “fat and sleek” from an ample food and water supply over the recent years.

 

40 years ago – 1974

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors announced that the mountain communities of Pine Cove, Idyllwild and Anza would be getting a dog catcher to be headquartered in Idyllwild. The supervisors also passed a leash law.

 

35 years ago – 1979

Free, on-site inspection of building lots began on a trial basis for the mountain area by Riverside County health officials to try to solve problems the Idyllwild building industry had in obtaining building permits.

 

30 years ago – 1984

An open party was held for Frank Dixon who was celebrating his 100th birthday.

 

25 years ago – 1989

The County Service Area 36 Advisory Committee hoped to secure county land for a regional park and a portion of Dutch Flats for a baseball field.

 

20 years ago – 1994

After a dog left tied up to a tree with a bag of food nearby was attacked by wild animals, Living Free Animal Sanctuary officials made a public plea asking that people not abandon pets at their gate.

 

15 years ago – 1999

A new California Highway Patrol Community Service Office opened in The Fort.

 

10 years ago – 2004

As a result of devastation caused by bark beetles, Southern California Edison reported that it had removed 12,000 trees in the Idyllwild-area mountains in less than a year.

 

5 years ago – 2009

After 22 years at the Town Crier, 13 of them at its helm, Publisher-Editor Becky Clark told her staff on Sept. 10 that she planned to retire effective Nov. 13. She would remain in a consulting role until the end of the year.

 

1 year ago – 2013

Dozens of people came out to view the painted deer at Forest Lumber, the only time all 22 deer sculptures were to be together.