Past Tense: July 23, 2020
70 years ago – 1950
The local square dance class completed nine lessons, which was the complete course, in one week. Then it announced it was opening to the public.
65 years ago – 1955
Hidden Lodge swimming pool opened daily. The cost was 60 cents for adults, and 40 cents for children.
60 years ago – 1960
Model T clubs chugged up the Hill to the County Park and attended the second Woodsman Breakfast of the season.
55 years ago – 1965
Noise from Town Hall dances was a problem for folks living nearby. Irritations like this didn’t exist when the town was more sparsely populated, they said.
50 years ago – 1970
Despite protests from thousands of people, the green light was given for Great American Land Company to begin its 3,911-lot development in Garner Valley.
45 years ago – 1975
Richard Smith of Idyllwild was injured in a motorcycle collision on Jameson Road. It was the third local motorcycle crash within a 10-day period.
40 years ago – 1980
Hikers through the Mt. San Jacinto State Park were rewarded with sights from another time period, such as a logging wagon from 1900. Lumbering on the Hill was at its peak between 1880 and 1910.
35 years ago – 1985
The U.S. Forest Service and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection were investigating the cause of the 1,800-acre Cabazon Fire that wounded 28 people. Nearly 1,600 firefighters battled the blaze. A Southern California Edison work crew was thought to be responsible for starting the fire.
30 years ago – 1990
Birchard Studio on the Idyllwild Arts Academy campus was remodeled. Birchard was the first building to be constructed on what was then, and is now, the sprawling campus of Idyllwild Arts Academy.
25 years ago – 1995
Due to budget reductions in the county Public Library System, the Idyllwild Branch was again fighting for hours. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors was looking at 40% cuts across the board.
20 years ago – 2000
Two visitors to the Hill fell from Tahquitz Rock during a climb and died tragically.
15 years ago – 2005
Kyle D. Ferree pleaded guilty to causing the Verbenia Fire by shooting a gun. Ultimately, the fire consumed nearly 4,000 acres northwest of Idyllwild and Pine Cove.
10 years ago – 2010
The U.S. Forest Service issued new and tighter fire restrictions for the San Bernardino National Forest. Forest officials were spurred to action by recent high temperatures, which were rapidly reducing vegetative moisture levels.
5 years ago – 2015
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (Cal Fire) filed a lawsuit against Tarek M. Al-Shawaf, James Nowlin and Donna Nowlin for the costs of fighting the Mountain Fire. Hill residents Lon and Susan Paul, Martin Prevosto, Alisia Fisher, Doug McKellar and MTS&L Inc. aka McKellar Tree Service and Landscaping Inc. also filed a separate lawsuit for damages they sustained in the same blaze.
1 year ago – 2019
Gabriel Calvera, wilderness park aid, had started his trek up Marion Mountain looking for a horse, Monty, who had supposedly died the day before. His concern turned to delight after finding his lost victim. To his surprise and happiness, he found Monty weak and thirsty, but alive.
