A Russian brown bear in a cage at Snow White Laundy in the 1960s. Laundry owner Bill Neuhoff owned the bear. Clarence Bischof, owner of the Lumber Company, shared the cost of upkeep.
File photo

65 years ago – 1949

Although there was snow along the shoreline of Hidden Lake, the lake itself was bone dry. There was speculation that a sharp earthquake during the winter opened a crack and drained off the water.

 

60 years ago – 1954

Ana Mary Elliott headed an Izaak Walton League committee dedicated to keeping riding trails in town open as more streets were paved.

 

55 years ago – 1959

The county backed the Forest Service in opening the Thomas Mountain area for recreational use. The mountain had been closed to public entry since World War II, except during wet months.

 

50 years ago – 1964

The State Highway Commission adopted a freeway plan for Highway 74 from Cranston to Mountain Center calling for a four-lane, 50 to 60 mph highway.

 

45 years ago – 1969

Hazel Cress, a civic leader in the Idyllwild community, died in Hemet. In addition to pioneering the Idyllwild Fire Protection District in 1946, she served with numerous service groups throughout the years.

 

40 years ago – 1974

Will Geer, “Grandpa” of the TV show “The Waltons,” performed Shakespeare at ISOMATA.

 

35 years ago – 1979

The Pine Cove Fire Department got a new fire truck. The 1979 quick-attack vehicle replaced the old army vehicle that was slow and inefficient.

 

30 years ago – 1984

It had been a very dry year so far: Only 4.75 inches of snow and 25.70 inches of rain had fallen.

 

25 years ago – 1989

LeRoy Smoot, Riverside County road commissioner, was adamant that the landmark tree in the middle of South Circle Drive must be cut down even though  proponents of a move to carve the tree into a monument wanted it to remain in its original location.

 

20 years ago – 1994

A group of Hill residents thwarted the attempts of two Hemet teenagers to break into a car parked in the Hemet Federal Savings parking lot.

15 years ago – 1999

More than 100 people showed up for the Town Hall meeting on Y2K, sponsored by Mountain Disaster Preparedness and Coordinated Resource Management and Planning.

 

10 years ago – 2004

Idyllwild School cheerleaders performed their way into first place with a dance called “You Know” in the 2004 Jr. Miss Drill Team USA competition in Culver City.

 

5 years ago – 2009

The first Jimmy Campbell Memorial Softball Tournament took place at the Idyllwild field. Town Hall and Idyllwild School organized the tournament to raise money for the Campbell Kids Fund, for the four children of Jimmy Campbell, the late Town Hall director who died March 19 of an unexpected illness.

 

1 year ago – 2013

Tindle Newspapers sold the Town Crier business to a new close corporation Jack and Becky Clark of Idyllwild formed. Mrs. Clark had been publisher-editor of the newspaper from 1996 to 2009 and had worked at the Town Crier since 1984. The office also was moving to 54425 North Circle Drive.