Past Tense: October 8, 2015

65 years ago – 1950

The Fern Valley Lodge was selling “fine dinners” for only $1 per meal.

60 years ago – 1955

Hemet Unified School District provided a bus to take Idyllwild students to football games in Hemet.

55 years ago – 1960

Although the Forest Service had not declared the Keen Camp guard station as excess, the possibility arose that the site might be used for a junior and senior high school.

50 years ago – 1965

At the conclusion of an 11-day training program conducted by the Spiritual Regeneration Movement Foundation held on the USC-Arts Foundation campus, teacher Lora Steere sculpted in clay a bust of spiritual leader Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

45 years ago – 1970

Because of high fire danger, the U.S. Forest Service closed all national forests south of Lake Tahoe.

40 years ago – 1975

The three local water boards — Fern Valley, Idyllwild, and Pine Cove — were on the verge of signing a joint-powers agreement. The formation of the authority would tackle problems common to all districts, such as the need for more water.

35 years ago – 1980

It was announced that no formal charges would be brought against three boys, two only 11 years old, who started the 28,655-acre Dry Falls Fire.

30 years ago – 1985

Lottery fever was high when news spread that Dee Ladd of Idyllwild had won $5,000 on a ticket she purchased at Village Market.

25 years ago – 1990

The Alandale Property Owner’s Association voted to purchase the Alandale Water Company from Palm Desert Resident Evelyn Welch. In conjunction with the purchase, the APOA formed the Alandale Mutual Water Company.

20 years ago – 1995

Commemorating 100 years of service, a Lake Hemet Dam Centennial Celebration was held at the Lake Hemet campground.

15 years ago – 2000

Along the left side of Village Lane, someone had defaced the storefronts with graffiti. The stop sign at the corner of North Circle Drive and Highway 243 and the wooden railing outside Jan’s Red Kettle had been hit with the same markings.

10 years ago – 2005

The fire danger level in the San Bernardino National Forest was raised from “High” to “Very High.” The forecast of Santa Ana winds was the impetus for the shift in danger level.

5 years ago – 2010

From September through November, Southern California Edison replaced existing meters in Idyllwild with Edison SmartConnect (Smart) two-way communicating meters. The new meters were able to transmit daily household energy usage data to customers’ SCE website sign-in page.

1 year ago – 2014

Negotiations about Idyllwild’s emergency radio station, WNKI, between the Mile High Radio Club and the Idyllwild Fire Department reached an impasse. MHRC offered to manage the station and bring their expertise to its dials and antenna almost two years ago, but withdrew their offer after they were unable to reach an agreement with IFPD.