Past Tense: July 15, 2021

70 years ago – 1951
Residents reported ice one morning when the temperature dropped to the 30s.

65 years ago – 1956
About 300 people jammed Town Hall to vote on zoning for the Idyllwild area. After a stormy discussion, a zoning plan was adopted by a 5-to-1 majority.

60 years ago – 1961
Bids were being accepted for a rural contract branch post office in Pine Cove.
55 years ago – 1966
A Town Crier story reported that the sound of steel drums would be heard at ISOMATA’s (now Idyllwild Arts Academy) Folk Music Workshop.

50 years ago – 1971
Heavy equipment was clearing a site on Lower Pine Crest to make way for Forest Lumber’s new quarters.

45 years ago – 1976
It was hot, too hot. Temperatures were in the 90s for seven straight days.

40 years ago – 1981
The Town Crier’s front page featured a story about Idyllwild resident Barbara Hunt’s efforts to raise orphaned and injured baby squirrels. Hunt is still at it.

35 years ago – 1986
More than 500 people attended the fifth-annual Pops In the Park concert sponsored by the Idyllwild Property Owners Association at Town Hall.

30 years ago – 1991
The Hemet Unified School District board voted to charge for bus service for students.

25 years ago – 1996
Idyllwild business owners were lamenting the lack of tourists following the Bee Canyon Fire and subsequent false rumors that the town had been heavily damaged by the fire.

20 years ago – 2001
A 100th anniversary celebration of the naming of Idyllwild in June 1901 was being planned by the Idyllwild Area Historical Society.

15 years ago – 2006
The Idyllwild Chamber board voted to begin transferring responsibility for recreation management to the Idyllwild Community Recreation Council.

10 years ago – 2011
Composer Brent Michael Davids, named one of the 29 pre-eminent American choral composers, was set to present his own compositions as part of the Native Arts Week Summer Program at Idyllwild Arts.

5 years ago – 2016
Vandals shot out car windows in multiple locations over a two-day period.

1 year ago – 2020
Like many other local events, the annual Art Walk & Wine Tasting event had fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic. As Riverside County experienced a surge in coronavirus cases, the AAI board voted to cancel the 23rd Art Walk & Wine Tasting.