70 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.

65 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 Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts (ISOMATA).

60 years ago – 1958

Residents were invited to attend the dedication of a new Olympic-sized swimming pool at Buckhorn Camp.

55 years ago – 1963

Showing on the big screen at the Rustic Theatre was “Bye Bye Birdie,”
starring Janet Leigh and Dick Van Dyke.

50 years ago – 1968

William Stahlberg was named to replace Robert Waggoner as supervisor of Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Stahlberg transferred from Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

45 years ago – 1973

A rare and valuable violin, made in 1751 by Carlos Antonio Testore, was given to ISOMATA by Mrs. Mary Stow Warring, Desert Sun School director.

40 years ago – 1978

Area residents rated fire protection at the top of the list of community needs at the Community Development Block Grant meeting.

35 years ago – 1983

The Pine Cove Water District board approved a budget of $341,500 — an increase of nearly 48 percent over the prior year’s budget.

30 years ago – 1988

Many real estate signs on properties in the Big Cedar Glen area were taken down as a result of action taken by the Big Cedar Glen Property Owners Association. Members were concerned that the 19 “for sale” signs in the three-street neighborhood created a depression-like atmosphere.

25 years ago – 1993

The temple of the Idyllwild branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was nearing completion.

20 years ago – 1998

The tragic loss of legendary children’s entertainer Shari Lewis was mourned on the Hill where Lewis and her husband, Jeremy Tarcher, had a second home for seven years.

15 years ago – 2003

Local peace advocates held a peace march to mark the 100th day after President Bush declared war on Iraq.

10 years ago – 2008

Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack’s bill, H.R. 4841, settling the decades-long dispute between the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and several local water districts, was signed into law.

5 years ago – 2013

The Strong Fire, reported shortly after noon Monday along Strong Drive in Fern Valley, was no match for human strength. Following on the heels of a mandatory evacuation because of the Mountain Fire in July, the 2-acre vegetation fire in Idyllwild brought panic but quick response as not only firefighters, but neighbors, readily quashed the blaze.

1 year ago – 2017

The federal government raised the price of a lifetime senior pass (for those ages 62 or older) by 700 percent — from $10 to $80.