past-tense
Somebody had to do something about the drought so Ernie Hucke Sr., proprietor of the Koffee Kup, donned his Native American suit in March 1972 and attempted a rain dance. It didn’t help, though. File photo/Gary Squier

65 years ago – 1949

Idyllwild had 7 inches of snow and a low of 18 degrees.

 

60 years ago – 1954

With every $10 in purchases made at Dutton’s Corner Store, a five-piece place setting of oven-proof dishes could be purchased for $1.19.

 

55 years ago – 1959

Young artists of the seventh and eighth grades painted the town when they adorned merchant windows with Halloween themes in the annual Window Decoration contest.

 

50 years ago – 1964

Idyllwild and the surrounding mountain area was featured on Slim Barnard’s “The Happy Wanderer” show on KNBC, Channel 4.

 

45 years ago – 1969

An aerial survey of forests dying from the effects of smog in the San Bernardino Mountains caused foresters to raise their estimate of the damage. It showed that about 50 percent, or 1.3 million trees, had damage.

 

40 years ago – 1974

The girls of Scout Leader Emily Pearson’s troop, working on earning their cooking badges, prepared and served a complete dinner for their parents at Town Hall.

 

35 years ago – 1979

Idyllwild challenged a Northern California town to a stop-smoking showdown for the Nov. 15 Great American Smokeout.

 

30 years ago – 1984

It was reported that the total cost of building the new Idyllwild Fire Station could be about $200,000, half the original bid estimates.

 

25 years ago – 1989

More than 200 signatures had been collected on a petition protesting a proposed redevelopment plan to fund a parking lot in Idyllwild.

 

20 years ago – 1994

Idyllwild School officials decided to change the theme of a school dance from a Halloween masquerade to “Hurray for the New Pep Squad” after parents, claiming censorship, protested the earlier decision to not allow witch costumes.

 

15 years ago – 1999

Some people in Idyllwild reported seeing an iridescent glow in the sky after being shaken from their beds at 2:46 a.m., Oct. 16, by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake centered at the 29 Palms Marine Corps base. No injuries were reported.

 

10 years ago – 2004

The Idyllwild community turned out en masse to a farewell dinner in honor of Riverside County 3rd District Supervisor Jim Venable who would be leaving office in January.

 

5 years ago – 2009

Lee Arnson, Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit head, said RMRU was called out at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 16 to rescue one severely dehydrated Marine on the Skyline Trail above Palm Springs.

 

1 year ago – 2013

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 had finally had an effect on Idyllwild School beyond spring’s standardized testing. Eleven students from Hemet Unified School District schools began attending Idyllwild Monday and three more were expected, according to Idyllwild Principal Matt Kraemer.

Similar Posts

  • Past Tense: October 13, 2016

    55 years ago – 1961 Bonnar Blong, local game manager, reported the extreme drought had caused a drastic drop in the number of coyotes, bobcats and lions in the local mountains. 50 years ago – 1966 U.S. Air Force Major Robert Krone was decorated with two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross for action in…

  • Past Tense: December 22, 2016

    65 years ago – 1951  The Lions Club viewed Korean War combat films at Fern Valley Lodge. The movies showed U.S. Marines withdrawing from Chosin. 60 years ago – 1956  Because of continuous dry weather, residents and visitors were being asked to be extra careful of fire during the holidays. Jess Southwell and other Forest…

  • Past Tense: April 4, 2013

    65 years ago – 1948 Chess and bridge were favorite features of evenings at Idyllwild Inn. 60 years ago – 1953 Nearly 30 members had signed up for the newly organized Rifle and Pistol Club sponsored by the American Legion Post 800. 55 years ago – 1958 The Sikkings were about to open their new…

  • Past Tense: Dec. 1, 2011

    65 years ago – 1946 Mrs. Huston at the Cedars Cafe in Fern Valley, beside Strawberry Creek, advertised that she wanted to trade a lawn mower for snowshoes. 55 years ago – 1956 Members of the class in government at Desert Sun School journeyed to the Hollywood Bowl to hear President Eisenhower speak. 50 years…

  • |

    Past Tense: January 8, 2015

    65 years ago – 1950 The Idyllwilders Square Dance Club rested its dances until spring.   60 years ago – 1955 The village was crowded with people when the first good snowstorm of the season hit. The TC reported that people “piled out of cars and into snowbanks, heaving snowballs at their friends.”   55…