Past Tense: Oct. 18, 2018

70 years ago – 1948

Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce directors voted to “reforest” the San Jacinto Mountains with Sequoia Giganteas.

65 years ago – 1953

Idyllwild Beauty Shop advertised, “Fall tints for your tresses,” offering tint colors “maple red,” “oakleaf russet” and “alder grey.”

60 years ago – 1958

Dr. Max Krone was in Germany acting as director of music for the U.S. Army schools in Germany, France and Italy.

55 years ago – 1963

Chamber of Commerce membership stood at 446, of which 82 were business memberships.

50 years ago – 1968

County Administrator Robert Anderson urged Idyllwild to incorporate. 

45 years ago – 1973

Seventeen people were running for eight  water board vacancies. A Town Crier editorial commended the “public-spirited citizens” for running for positions which were “unpaid, time-consuming, often thankless jobs.”

40 years ago – 1978

After a six-month search, another physician was found for the mountain area. Dr. David H. Reid of Weston, Massachusetts, a family practitioner for more than 30 years, declared his intention to move to the Hill as soon as possible.

35 years ago – 1983

The Hemet Unified School District governing board announced it would hold meetings in the

30 years ago – 1988

Nearly $2 million worth of fine cars — 25 Ferraris — were in Idyllwild when members of the Ferrari Owners Club from  Los Angeles stopped for lunch.

25 years ago – 1993

The Pine Cove Water District Board of Directors voted to form a lease agreement with the Idyllwild Lions Club for refurbishing the ballfields located at Dutch Flat, which were jointly owned by the Pine Cove and Idyllwild water districts. The fields had been closed down eight years previously.

20 years ago – 1998

Local fisherman “Grandpa Duncan” caught a 21-pound catfish from the shore of Lake Hemet. He was on a roll, having recently caught a 23-pounder and a 20-pounder.

15 years ago – 2003

As firestorms and high winds intensified across Southern California, Southern California Edison cut off electricity to the mountain communities for more than 24 hours.

5 years ago – 2013

The previous Wednesday, about 1.3 inches of rain were recorded at the Keenwild Ranger Station. This brought the total rainfall at Keenwild, since July 1, to 4.87 inches, and was nearly 1.4 inches or 40 percent greater than the long-term average for rainfall through October.

1 year ago – 2017

A small fire ignited when a vehicle and trailer caught on fire just west of Mountain Center on Highway 74. The rapid initial attack included a helicopter and two air tankers besides the ground engine crews. Nearly 80 firefighters combated the fire and prevented it from expanding and spreading.