Past Tense: December 12, 2019

70 years ago – 1949
Postmaster Rita Patton reminded everyone that unsealed Christmas cards required 2 cents postage.
65 years ago – 1954
The big Christmas tree was lit in the lobby of the Idyllwild Inn.
60 years ago – 1959
The Chamber of Commerce asked the County Board of Supervisors to exclude Idyllwild from the proposed mosquito abatement district being considered for western Riverside County.
55 years ago – 1964
An advertisement by the California Water & Telephone Company in the Town Crier urged giving the gift of modern communication — an extension telephone.
50 years ago – 1969
The Squirrel’s Nest in Mountain Center was advertising complete dinners starting at $1.50 and a prime rib dinner for $3.95.
45 years ago – 1974
The Idyllwild and Anza fire departments were both using new radios that provided direct communication between ambulance personnel and hospital emergency room staff.
40 years ago – 1979
It took five days for 14 members of the California Conservation Corps to restore Eleanor Park. Idyllwild residents donated food, equipment and labor for the clean-up project.
35 years ago – 1984
The new executive director of ISOMATA (now Idyllwild Arts Academy), William M. Lowman, was in Idyllwild. He would officially take on his position Jan. 2.
30 years ago – 1989
The tree monument being carved by Jonathan LaBenne was nearly done. Almost 140 individuals, families and businesses had each contributed $100 or more to the project.
25 years ago – 1994
A donkey led the Las Posadas candlelight procession that began on Ridgeview Drive and proceeded to the Queen of Angels Church to commemorate Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter on the first Christmas Eve.
20 years ago – 1999
The Forest Service was having to lay off seasonal firefighters even though the fire season, which usually ended the first week of November, was extended because of the lack of significant rainfall for months.
15 years ago – 2004
Bill Whitman opened his physical therapy clinic on South Circle Drive.
10 years ago – 2009
A helicopter hoisted Lee Arnson, president of the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit, and Chad Marler into Chino Canyon to rescue a stranded hiker.
5 years ago – 2014
Christmas on the Hill is always a wonderful time to visit and celebrate the holidays the old-fashioned way. And while snow is not guaranteed, the cool, crisp weather, the pine-scented air and the 100-foot Christmas tree adorned with 4,500 colorful lights located in the center of the Idyllwild village were certain to fill visitors with the holiday spirit.
1 year ago – 2018
Quiet Creek and Strawberry Creek inns Manager Marc Kassouf was awarded General Manager of the Year (small property) by the California Hotel and Lodging Association at Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego.