65 years ago – 1951

A summer drought was anticipated all over Southern California; consequently, water rationing was being discussed. The Town Crier urged the  local water companies to discuss a cooperative plan.

60 years ago – 1956

It was the last trout season opener and hundreds of anglers lined Lake Fulmor. From then on, trout fishing in Southern California, including at Lake Fulmor and Lake Hemet, would be on a year-round basis.

55 years ago – 1961

About 40 local teens and adults participated in a highway cleanup from Mountain Center to Pine Cove. The Idyllwild Garden Club fed lunch to the workers at the county park.

50 years ago – 1966

A pioneer figure passed from the mountain scene with the death of Henry Arnaiz. His parents had been among the area’s earliest settlers. Arnaiz was the owner of Idyllwild Stables until he retired.

45 years ago – 1971

High Castle owner Dale Bailey began classes on integrating Eastern and Western thought. The first program at High Castle was entitled, “Spirituality through Sensuality.”

40 years ago – 1976

At a “Power to the People” workshop were diverse opinions about how to best bring power to people in the future, but there was consensus that dependence on oil, domestic or foreign, was not the answer.

35 years ago – 1981

About 100 local residents attended a forum to hear fire department officials discuss whether raising property taxes was the only solution to maintaining fire protection standards in Idyllwild. On the agenda was developing alternatives to a proposed standby charge.

30 years ago – 1986

It was a night to remember as more than 150 people dressed in old-fashioned prom finery and danced to big-band music at the Town Prom thrown by the Idyllwild Chamber at ISOMATA (now Idyllwild Arts).

25 years ago – 1991

The Idyllwild Post Office began closing its lobby at night because of continued vandalism. The lobby had previously been open 24 hours a day.

20 years ago – 1996

Idyllwild seniors were invited to dine for lunch alongside Idyllwild School students in the school’s cafeteria. Principal Roberta Kerr Parrott extended the invitation in light of the discontinuance of the Riverside County-sponsored senior lunch program held at the Idyllwild-Pine Cove Community Center.

15 years ago – 2001

The Idyllwild Garden Club announced plans for “Reva Ballreich Beautification Week” to be held May 5 to 12. The week would culminate in a Lilac Tour at Ballreich’s home where more than 887 varieties of lilacs grew.

10 years ago – 2006 

Because of its successful debut in 2005, the Idyllwild Spring Challenge, directed by Katie Hedrich, was selected as a national venue for the American Mountain Bike Challenge.

5 years ago – 2011

Idyllwild business owner Shane Stewart added ownership of another commercial property and related businesses — the Pine Cove Market site — to his growing Hill portfolio.

1 year ago – 2015

Much needed rain fell over the Hill Saturday afternoon and evening. The amounts ranged from slightly more than an inch at the U.S. Forest Service’s Keenwild Station to almost 2 inches at the Idyllwild Fire Station.