Past Tense: April 15, 2021

70 years ago – 1951
The Department of Fish and Game released a flock of 28 Mexican Bronze wild turkeys. The intent was to establish a plentiful enough population to permit hunting in local forests.

65 years ago – 1956
A group of green thumbers met at Hazel Wright’s home to form the Idyllwild Garden Club. Wright was elected the club’s first president.

60 years ago – 1961
Because it had been the driest winter on record, the Idyllwild County Water District instituted water rationing. Hard hit were local parks and campgrounds, which had lower priority than private residences. The State Park was installing pit toilets and Idyllwild County Park closed, with plans to reopen as a dry camp.

55 years ago – 1966
How America planned to carry three men safely to the moon and back was the topic of a presentation at the Desert Sun School. The Town Crier co-sponsored the event where Apollo project spokesmen discussed the mission.

50 years ago – 1971
Members of American Legion Post 800 were remodeling the old Kiwanis Club lodge on Marian View Drive that the Post had recently purchased. The building was built in 1929.

45 years ago – 1976
Members of the local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses cleared land and prepared the site for their new church on upper Pine Crest. Building of the church was expected to take three months.
40 years ago – 1981
The Izaac Walton League, headed by President Ernie Maxwell, opened Idyllwild’s first recycling center at Town Hall.

35 years ago – 1986
A mountain lion, believed to be responsible for killing three dogs and injuring another since March 5, was killed 300 yards from a home on Deerfoot Lane.

30 years ago – 1991
A grand opening celebration was held for La Casita Mexican Restaurant.

25 years ago – 1996
A Town Crier headline read, “Hill gas prices on the rise: no end in sight.” The price for a gallon of 87 octane gasoline was $1.59 at the Shell and $1.61 at the Chevron stations.

20 years ago – 2001
The Mountain Quilters Guild of Idyllwild started a Junior Quilters program at Idyllwild School.
15 years ago – 2006
After 30 years of serving Idyllwild Post Office customers, postal clerk Mary Arnaiz retired.

10 years ago – 2011
Once again, journalist peers honored the Idyllwild Town Crier. Its quality and professional work were recognized in the California Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2010 Better Newspaper Contest.

5 years ago – 2016
Bob Lewis, former Town Hall recreation director under the Idyllwild Community Recreation Council, returned April 1, to a slightly reconfigured job.

1 year ago – 2020
Quarantine: A poem
By Kaylee Gage,
10 years old

Quality time with family
Unending boredom
Always home
Reading
A lot of handwashing
Napping
Toilet paper
Inside
Never near people
Everyone safe