An Idyllwild Civil Defense Committee in 1950. From left, Charles Timmers, Hunter McConnell and Harold Holmes.
File Photo/Bob Gray

70 years ago - 1948

The PTA raised $150 at its first Hill social event.

65 years ago - 1953

The thunderstorm that drenched Idyllwild proceeded northward, leaving 300 lightning strikes in the Six Rivers National Forest.

60 years ago - 1958

Charlotte Gorzny, an eager youthful reader, read 47 books to top all other participants in the library’s summer reading program.

55 years ago - 1963

Ground was broken for the new California Electric Power Company office to be located west of the post office.

50 years ago - 1968

The thermometer dipped to 27 degrees. Ice decorated Eleanor Johnson’s yard after plants and trees were watered during the night.

45 years ago - 1973

It was announced that Riverside County would buy a 137-acre addition to Idyllwild County Park.

40 years ago - 1978

Shoppers for Labor Day barbecues could stop at Village Market where ground beef was 79 cents per pound and turkey franks were 59 cents per pound.

35 years ago - 1983

The Riverside Planning Commission’s conditional use permit to Royal Pines Trailer Park for additional spaces was pulled by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, which set another public hearing on the matter.

30 years ago - 1988

The $500 fund-raising goal set for a new marker for the Speed of Light Monument on Pine Cove Road was reached. The original marker, denoting the speed of light experiments conducted in 1926, had been stolen.

25 years ago - 1993

The Pine Cove Water District Board of Directors pursued annexing Alhatti Christian Resort in Alandale into the district.

20 years ago - 1998

Dr. Norman Mellor of Idyllwild, who had donated his time and skills to Camp Emerson for 69 years, had one of the facility’s camping areas named for him.

15 years ago - 2003

The Idyllwild Fire Protection District was truck shopping after 3rd District Supervisor Jim Venable got the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to approve up to $500,000 to buy a new hook-and-ladder truck.

10 years ago - 2008

A record crowd attended the 15th-annual Jazz in the Pines festival held at Idyllwild Arts Academy.

5 years ago - 2013

The number of wildland fires and the unusually dry weather caused the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group to increase the national fire preparedness level to its highest point, PL-5, which signaled very high activity.

1 year ago - 2017

A burglar or burglars broke into and ransacked the American Legion’s offices. According to Danny Richardson, Legion commander, the safe contained about $1,200 to $15,000 in cash and valuables at the time.