Past Tense: July 11, 2019
70 years ago – 1949
A committee was chosen to supervise building the new Presbyterian Community Church next to the manse.
65 years ago – 1954
A 25-year-old Thermal man drowned while swimming in Lake Fulmor. He was the lake’s first victim.
60 years ago – 1959
The Chamber put on a hugely successful chuckwagon dinner outside Town Hall. It was reported that 462 people passed down the serving line.
55 years ago – 1964
Sixty residents petitioned county supervisors to set up a temporary animal shelter in Idyllwild.
50 years ago – 1969
Potential home buyers might have looked at the “real rustic,” fully furnished, two-bedroom cabin listed for sale in Pine Cove at $10,500.
45 years ago – 1974
Wilderness rangers packed in supplies and equipment for Larkette Lein, 21, spending her summer as the lookout atop Tahquitz Peak.
40 years ago – 1979
A 21-year-old climber plunged to his death while scaling the north face of Lily Rock.
35 years ago – 1984
The Town Crier summed up the weather year (ending June 30), calling it a “mixed bag.” Even though the moisture total was average at 25.90 inches of rain, less than 5 inches of snowfall was recorded.
30 years ago – 1989
The owner of the dirt lot in the center of town leased it for use as a pay parking lot pending approval of plans to build what would become “The Fort” on the lot.
25 years ago – 1994
A severe summer storm caused spectacular lightning strikes that started at least 14 fires. Most were small, but two were serious. The Palm Fire destroyed 14 structures in the Pinyon area and the Lake Hemet Fire caused the campground to be evacuated.
20 years ago – 1999
Idyllwild Arts Academy was celebrating its 50th Summer Program season.
15 years ago – 2004
A reception for an art exhibit honoring Idyllwild artist Dorothy “Dot” Swain Lewis was held in the Krone Library at the Idyllwild Arts Academy. Lewis, a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II, exhibited her sculpture of a WASP.
10 years ago – 2009
In what promised to be the first of several “public art” installations in Idyllwild, local sculptors Dore Capitani and Jan Jaspers-Fayer and friends installed “Girl Reading a Dickens Book” at the site of the previous Jonathan LaBenne Tree Monument on Village Center Drive. The six-color, powder-coated steel, two-dimensional, 8-foot sculpture was later moved to the new Idyllwild Library site.
5 years ago – 2014
The Riverside County Assessor’s office reported that Idyllwild property values had grown 4.15% for the tax year 2013-14. In 2012, the Idyllwild area property value increase was only 1% following three consecutive years of decline.
1 year ago – 2018
Sunny, the resident Nature Center cat — who held that post longer than most — had been removed by Riverside County and was looking for a home through the Animal Rescue Friends. She was welcomed by local Gary Kuscher and has lived happily with him ever since.
