Past Tense: July 1, 2021

70 years ago – 1951
A county road crew installed sidewalks and curbs downtown.

65 years ago – 1956
Actress Marjorie Main, best known for her role as “Ma Kettle,” bought a lot on Dickenson Road.

60 years ago – 1961
A touch of the Old West livened the 4th of July weekend as ropers competed at the Idyllwild Stables Arena.

55 years ago – 1966
The first publicly funded street lights were installed at 18 locations in Idyllwild.

50 years ago – 1971
Four motorcyclists went to Hemet Valley Hospital with injuries from a street scuffle between cycle gangs in the business district of Idyllwild.

45 years ago – 1976
In the face of strong objections from agricultural and mining interests, the Riverside County Planning Commission declined to approve a proposed tree-removal control ordinance.

40 years ago – 1981
Two Idyllwild long-timers, Maggie Dutton and Inie Wilson, were honored at the Idyllwild Soroptimist’s Donors’ Luncheon, where they told stories of their early years in Idyllwild. “In those days, people were not judged by what kind of car they drove or how big their house was; they were judged by the size of their wood pile,” Maggie was quoted as saying.

35 years ago – 1986
Hill residents were jarred awake at 2:21 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, when a 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit. Although there were no injuries, some homes and businesses sustained extensive damage.

30 years ago – 1991
Idyllwild handyman Tom Henderson, charged in May with solicitation to commit murder, was taken into custody when the district attorney’s office presented evidence of new threats against Henderson’s wife and her boyfriend.

25 years ago – 1996
There were two Independence Day Parades in Idyllwild that year. Having just returned to the Hill after being evacuated due to the Bee Canyon Fire, residents arranged a spontaneous parade made up of returning fire engines and firefighters. Spectators never stopped cheering. The “regular” parade took place two days later on July 6.

20 years ago – 2001
The results of a survey conducted by the Town Crier showed 77% of respondents were opposed to incorporation for Idyllwild.
15 years ago – 2006
Many Idyllwild residents had acting roles in Steve Savage’s feature film “Cosmic Radio,” being shot in Idyllwild. The 4th of July Parade was filmed for inclusion in the movie.

10 years ago – 2011
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors declared July 4 to 10, 2011, to be Ernie Maxwell Week in honor of the founder of the Town Crier and conservationalist. Maxwell was honored on what would have been his 100th birhday with several exhibits and a memorial hike of the Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail.

5 years ago – 2016
The Riverside County Department of Public Health reported that ground squirrels from Dark Canyon and Marion Mountain campgrounds tested antibody-positive for plague, according to state and local health officials.

1 year ago – 2020
Our very own Idyllwild Public Library, a branch of the Riverside County Library System, celebrated its 100th birthday.