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Past Tense: January 5, 2017
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65 years ago – 1951 Idyllwild Fire Chief Bill Price had his truck equipped with a radio so he could keep in touch with the California Department of Forestry Fire Station in Perris. 60 years ago – 1956 Glenn Froehlich, chair of the Chamber Membership Committee, reported that the Hill canvass of local residents netted…
60 years ago – 1952 Work began on a new bridge across Strawberry Creek at Fern Valley Corners, replacing a 25-year-old wooden structure. 55 years ago – 1957 It was the wettest May anyone could remember. The season’s total rain and snowfall was 5 inches under normal, but the late rains and snows were extremely…
70 years ago – 1950The Fern Valley Lodge was selling “fine diners” for only $1 per meal. 65 years ago – 1955Hemet Unified School District (HUSD) provided a bus to take Idyllwild students to football games in Hemet. 60 years ago – 1960Although the Forest Service had not declared the Keen Camp guard station as…
70 years ago – 1948 The dump, the Town Crier learned, was a popular after-dark rendezvous during the summer. Residents were taking guests there to watch the deer feeding. 65 years ago – 1953 A sudden cold snap hit the mountain; the thermometer dropped to 18 degrees at Kenworthy Station in Garner Valley. 60 years…
70 years ago – 1948 Movie star Tim Holt was in town with a film company shooting a western picture in Garner Valley. He brought his favorite movie horse, Lightning, for the film shooting. 65 years ago – 1953 Four children — Earlene Dick, Jimmy Johnson, Gary Anderson and Arty Yates — formed the entire…
70 years ago – 1951The Lions Club viewed Korean War combat films at Fern Valley Lodge. The movies showed U.S. Marines withdrawing from Chosin. 65 years ago – 1956Because of continuous dry weather, residents and visitors were being asked to be extra careful of fire during the holidays. Jess Southwell and other Forest Service lookouts…