Past Tense: August 26, 2021

65 years ago – 1956
Tahquitz Pines dedicated the new stone entrance archway at a ceremony attended by more than 100 people.

60 years ago – 1961
The county started a house numbering system for Idyllwild, Pine Cove and Mountain Center. Even numbers would be on the north and east sides of the street; odd on the south and west. Because of the sweeping pattern of Circle Drive, it was decided to divide it as north and south by Strawberry Creek.
55 years ago – 1966
Two nights a week, Welch’s Carriage Inn Restaurant was serving dinner, including coffee, for $1. On Wednesday, diners got spaghetti with bread and a salad. On Friday, it was the fish-and-chips plate.

50 years ago – 1971
New construction in the community climbed to its highest point in over a year when 86 permits were issued in July.

45 years ago – 1976
Queen of Angels Catholic Church replaced its plain windows with stained glass windows the Mountain Tiffany Shop created.

40 years ago – 1981
According to Bureau of Census preliminary figures, the population of the mountain area, including Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Mountain Center, Garner Valley, Anza, Aguanga and Terwilliger, was 5,953 — a 95-percent increase from 1970.

35 years ago – 1986
For the first time since it opened in 1950, ISOMATA (now Idyllwild Arts Academy) announced it would become a year-round school in September, with nearly 80 students enrolled in grades eight through 12.

30 years ago – 1991
Idyllwild has always liked to host music festivals. In 1991, it was the Mountain Acoustics Music Festival, which more than 250 people attended.

25 years ago – 1996
A third venue, the French Quarter, debuted at the third-annual Jazz in the Pines festival.

20 years ago – 2001
Demonstrators protested by picketing along Pine Crest Avenue warning of impending misfortune at the hands of the Centers for Biological Diversity, the environmental organization known for closing public lands to ranchers and recreators by filing lawsuits tied to the Endangered Species Act.

15 years ago – 2006
The Idyllwild Pharmacy, which opened in 1977, filled its 500,000th prescription.

10 years ago – 2011
The $150 state Fire Prevention Fee was trimmed. The State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection met and set the 2011-12 level at $90, but also approved conditions that could lower the fee, especially in areas such as Idyllwild.

5 years ago – 2016
Idyllwild Summer Concert Series ended its annual eight-concert series with a crowd favorite, Lisa Haley and the Zydekats.

1 year ago – 2020
Many vendors were available during the Farmers Market Sunday mornings at Town Hall.