Past Tense: May 6, 2021

70 years ago – 1951
Izaak Walton League members took part in a work party, cleaning the Fuller Mill Creek campground.

65 years ago – 1956
Inie and Johnny Wilson celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

60 years ago – 1961
In addition to a parade, carnival, square dance and ball, the fifth-annual Idyllwild Bear Festival featured a Pauline Bunyon chainsaw contest, stagecoach rides through the village and a barbecue featuring buffalo and bear burgers.

55 years ago – 1966
Workers were clearing the site for the Shell gas station soon to be erected at the junction of Ridgeview Drive and Idyllwild Road (now Highway 243).

50 years ago – 1971
Idyllwild’s traditional Mother’s Day snow missed by one day.

45 years ago – 1976
Village Market was advertising strawberries at 4 pints for 89 cents, Italian squash for 29 cents per pound and romaine lettuce at 19 cents a head.

40 years ago – 1981
A public hearing was held on a proposed tax levy of standby charges for fire suppression services by the Idyllwild Fire Protection District.

35 years ago – 1986
The Garner Valley Fire Station switched from being an all-volunteer station to being staffed 24 hours a day with paid firefighters.

30 years ago – 1991
The 1990 census figures showed that, while the population of Riverside County had soared between 1980 and 1990, the population of the Idyllwild and Pine Cove area dropped nearly 3.7%. However, student enrollment at Idyllwild School had grown more that 30% in the same period.

25 years ago – 1996
The Idyllwild Arts Academy’s International Chamber Orchestra performed at The Kennedy Center’s 25th-anniversary Gala — touted as the Washington, D.C. event of the year.

20 years ago – 2001
A new grass-roots organization was created on the Hill — the Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council.

15 years ago – 2006
Nearly two years after the fire that destroyed Arriba Mexican restaurant, construction to rebuild finally began. Owner Jose Huizar remained optimistic that he would overcome hurdles posed by the insurance company and would soon be operating his restaurant again.

10 years ago – 2011
Idyllwild’s own Casey Abrams left the “American Idol” stage creating a final impression that would last for many seasons. Singing “I Put a Spell on You,” Abrams showed why this “jazz messenger” had found his way into the hearts of not just his Idylwild supporters, but fans the world over.

5 years ago – 2016
A deceased female found along Highway 74 was identified as Bianca Bogarin, 25, of Moreno Valley, according to the county Sheriff’s Department.

1 year ago – 2020
Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD), Cal Fire and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to a remote rescue call. IFPD crew members made the hike, performed patient care and secured the hiker for hoist by CHP helicopter.