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Past Tense: January 5, 2017
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65 years ago – 1948 The district school board accepted a bid of $80,272 for a new Idyllwild School building. Work was to be completed in six months. 60 years ago – 1953 The first production of a Shakespearean play in the history of Idyllwild occurred when “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was presented at the…
70 years ago – 1948 Formal opening ceremonies were to be held to mark the completion of the Banning-Idyllwild Highway. 65 years ago – 1953 The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Geological Survey Division began a project to map inaccessible areas in the local mountains. 60 years ago – 1958 The Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce…
65 years ago – 1951 Rev. Donald Warner conducted the services at the official opening of the Idyllwild Community Presbyterian Church. 60 years ago – 1956 Customers at Dutton’s Village Market and Corner Store in Fern Valley could make their own ice cream float for 19 cents. 55 years ago – 1961 Pinecraft Furniture company…
65 years ago – 1957Pine Dell Estates was a new development in town, just below the village on National Forest Highway [aka Highway 243]. 60 years ago – 1962It had been 75 days since the last measurable moisture. High temperature for the week was a sizzling 96 degrees.• • •With the new Sabin oral polio…
65 years ago – 1952 Dr. M.M. Null announced that he had hundreds of small sequoias to be given to residents and property owners free of charge. The little redwoods were grown for planting in the community. 60 years ago – 1957 Clarence Bischof purchased the San Jacinto Lumber Yard. 55 years ago – 1962…
65 years ago – 1949 The Chamber discussed a plan to identify the Hill community with the back country, approving the theme, “Gateway to the Mt. San Jacinto State Park Wilderness.” 60 years ago – 1954 When Norma DeMent opened the Idyllwild Department Store Thursday morning, billows of gaseous smoke poured forth so Norma ran…