Past Tense: August 8, 2019

70 years ago – 1949
The Women’s Guild of the Community Presbyterian Church was raising money via bake sales for a new roof for the manse.

65 years ago – 1954
Barbara Wilson was honored at a community bridal shower at the Idyllwild Inn. Her marriage to Bud Hunt was scheduled for Oc tober.

60 years ago – 1959
The matter of a liquor license for the Idyllwild Inn remained a hot topic in town. It was expected to reach the California Supreme Court soon.

55 years ago – 1964
Jean Farrar, “the happy yogi,” started yoga classes in Idyllwild.
50 years ago – 1969
Groundwater from the previous winter’s snow and rainfall had so saturated the ground that it hampered laying lines for the sewer project in town.

45 years ago – 1974
Idyllwild Fire Chief Bud Hunt reminded home builders that smoke detectors were being required on all new construction.
40 years ago – 1979
Locals were watching the night sky to view the largest annual meteorite show, the “Perseid Shower.”

35 years ago – 1984
Bids were opened for the construction of the new Idyllwild Fire Station.

30 years ago – 1989
The owner of the last septic tank pumping service on the hill shut his business after the closing of the Anza septic ponds. He joined other local septic tank pumping business owners who refused to make the trip off the hill, citing the danger of transporting heavy liquid loads.

25 years ago – 1994
Layoffs in the Riverside County public library system hit the hill especially hard. All staff members at the Idyllwild Branch Library learned they were among those who had lost their jobs. Library hours were reduced from 20 to 12 per week.

20 years ago – 1999
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department personnel detonated some blasting caps found on national forest land near Royal Pines Estates.

15 years ago – 2004
Fire destroyed Arriba Mexican Restaurant.

10 years ago – 2009
Three locals qualified for triathlon world championships at Australia’s Gold Coast Sept. 9 to 13. Brad Rechtfertig, Lee Piche and Bill Whitman qualified for the swim, bike and running competition to be held at the Southport Broadwater Parklands in Queensland, Australia. Piche, 52, and Whitman, 46, were going. Rechtfertig, 35, said it was not a good time for him to take a vacation.

5 years ago – 2014
Smokey Bear celebrated his 70th birthday in Idyllwild. His message of personal responsibility continued to be as critical and relevant as ever.

1 year ago – 2018
According to Lt. Zachary Hall of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Hemet Station, four arrests were made during the Cranston Fire evacuation.