65 years ago – 1949

The newly formed lake on the Banning-Idyllwild Highway was officially named Lake Fulmor in honor of A.C. Fulmor, county planning commissioner and surveyor whose mission and ingenuity played a prominent part in the realization of the highway.

 

60 years ago – 1954

Desert Sun School held commencement exercises for the first class to graduate from the high school. Seven students received diplomas.

 

55 years ago – 1959

The new Scenic Trail above Idyllwild was dedicated with a ceremony by county officials.

 

50 years ago – 1964

Plans for Idyllwild’s first major apartment complex were announced by two Orange County developers. They called for a 102-unit complex on Tollgate Road.

 

45 years ago – 1969

Byron J. Walters was fined by the California Public Utilities Commission for contempt of the commission’s orders to remedy the water system of the Tahquitz Lake Water Company. Pursuant to another commission order, the Pine Cove County Water District had taken over operation of the water system.

 

40 years ago – 1974

“Godspell” was playing at the Rustic Theatre. Admission was $2 for adults, $1 for children.

 

35 years ago – 1979

A statewide Highway Patrol sickout in protest of a 10.5-percent pay increase proposal resulted in almost no traffic citations being written  over the weekend in Riverside County. Officers were seeking a 20.6-percent raise.

 

30 years ago – 1984

Betty Jandl was giving a class on “Advanced Microwave Cooking” at Town Hall.

 

25 years ago – 1989

A proposal to build a sheriff’s station in Idyllwild was presented to Riverside County Sheriff Cois Byrd at a Town Hall meeting by the Pine Cove and Fern Valley property owners associations.

 

20 years ago – 1994

The nationwide fad of collecting and trading POGs, silver-dollar-sized circular cardboard chips with a design on one side, had reached Idyllwild. School officials had to ban them from campus because of the disruption they caused.

 

15 years ago – 1999

Idyllwild Pizza Company was packed for two shows by Fritz Coleman, TV weatherman and stand-up comedian.

 

10 years ago – 2004

In a week’s time, three vehicles were found over the side of the mountain on Highway 74 toward Hemet. Two contained the remains of drivers who perished in the crashes.

 

5 years ago – 2009

About 250 past locals who grew up in Idyllwild, also known as “hillbillies” and “townies,” as well as their families, arrived from all over the nation over the weekend to enjoy the first Idyllwild Reunion, also know as IdyllFest 09.

 

1 year ago – 2013

Former Idyllwild School teacher Vic Scavarda was selected to replace retiring Hemet Unified School District Trustee Bill Sanborn on the governing board in July, representing the Idyllwild area.