Frank Ferro, center, plays Alessandro, the hero of the Ramona Pageant for the 61st annual production at the Ramona Bowl in Hemet in April 1988. Accompanying Ferro were Terry Gross as Ramona and Mary Lozano as Mara. File photo

65 years ago – 1948
The Town Crier reported that Editor Ernie Maxwell’s cat had five new kittens.

60 years ago – 1953
Sunset magazine featured an article about Idyllwild.

55 years ago – 1958
Actor David Niven stopped at Doro’s Market and visited for a while.

50 years ago – 1963
Five Orange County residents were killed when their Cessna Sky Hawk plane crashed in Anza Valley.

45 years ago – 1968
The U.S. Forest Service was directing logging operations on Santa Rosa Mountain to remove pines vulnerable to insect attack.

40 years ago – 1973
Mountain creeks were running strong as the largest snowpack in 20 years melted.

35 years ago – 1978
Suzanne Somers, star of the television hit, “Three’s Company,” spent two days in Idyllwild filming “Jack and the Princess,” a CBS Movie of the Week.

30 years ago – 1983
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors directed its administrative, planning, road and legal staffs to initiate a feasibility study of reduced road widths, standards and more restrictive grades to reflect the special weather conditions, resort character and safety needs of the local communities.

25 years ago – 1988
Community leaders and county officials led a well-attended Town Hall meeting on the formation of a Hill Municipal Advisory Council.
20 years ago – 1993

The fourth-annual Earth Fair was scheduled to be at Town Hall.

15 years ago – 1998
The Idyllwild Mountain Community Patrol was honored by three off-Hill government agencies. Hemet Unified School District recognized the group for patrolling Idyllwild School after reports of a stalker. The City of Palm Desert and the Riverside County Board of Supervisors both gave an award for graffiti removal.

10 years ago – 2003
The U.S. Forest Service was considering closing the forest because of the threat of wildfire in the parched mountains. The Hill’s moisture levels had set an all-time low.

5 years ago – 2008
Marshall Hawkins, embarked on a trip to Bremen, Germany, to participate in an international conference on jazz as an ambassador of jazz.

1 year ago – 2012
A major fire destroyed the Fern Valley home of Idyllwild businessman Shane Stewart.

Similar Posts

  • Past Tense: October 23, 2014

    65 years ago – 1949 Idyllwild had 7 inches of snow and a low of 18 degrees.   60 years ago – 1954 With every $10 in purchases made at Dutton’s Corner Store, a five-piece place setting of oven-proof dishes could be purchased for $1.19.   55 years ago – 1959 Young artists of the…

  • |

    Past Tense: March 14, 2019

    70 years ago – 1949 Caretakers of the Bunker Ranch found themselves snowbound for seven weeks with dwindling provisions. 65 years ago – 1954 The Isaac Walton League built and installed 14 signs to warn motorists about deer on local highways. 60 years ago – 1959 More than 60 mountaineers attended a workshop, sponsored by…

  • |

    Past Tense: March 10, 2016

    65 years ago – 1951 The Forest Service announced that, beginning in summer, it would issue a special certificate to everyone who climbed to the Tahquitz Lookout. They would be issued a membership card in the “Ancient and Honorable Order of Squirrels.” 60 years ago – 1956 All Hill residents were invited to a baby…

  • |

    Past Tense: July 28, 2022

    70 years ago – 1952Capt. Carmen Durr-ance, international president of NIP, was on the Hill. NIP stands for Not Important People. The organization was founded on April Fool’s Day. 65 years ago – 1957Work started on Bluebird Hill Lodge, planned to be Idyllwild’s most elaborate motel. A children’s playground, a coffee shop and glassed-in brunch…

  • Past Tense: Oct. 11, 2012

    60 years ago – 1952 Volunteers were busy finishing the interior of the Catholic Church in knotty pine.   55 years ago – 1957 Celebrating Fire Protection Week, Chief Bill Price rolled trucks into the school yard to demonstrate equipment. The show ended when assisting room mothers handed out ice cream cones to all. 50…

  • Past Tense: March 28, 2013

    65 years ago – 1948 As the Lions entertained in honor of their daughters, Ernie Maxwell contributed a chalk talk on “Feminine Fashion.” 60 years ago – 1953 Two bald eagles were frequenting the Foster Lake area. 55 years ago – 1958 The Chamber of Commerce listed public restrooms among its study projects for the…