Past Tense: October 21, 2021

65 years ago – 1956
Hill Republicans and Independent voters turned out 134 strong to the Dwight Eisenhower birthday party at the Hillbilly Lodge. Featured speaker was Loyd Wright Sr., president of the American Bar Association.

60 years ago – 1961
The Tahquitz Lake Golf Club opened to capacity business.

55 years ago – 1966
A 50-unit campground was under construction at Stone Creek.

50 years ago – 1971
Mountain Center Free School closed for the week in protest against all wars.

45 years ago – 1976
Just shy of an acre of land at the intersection of Morris Ranch Road and Highway 74 was donated by Jack Garner for the home of the Garner Valley Volunteer Fire Department.

40 years ago – 1981
Hillfolk getting ready for Halloween probably shopped for sweet deals at the Cornet store, where 16-ounce bags of Baby Ruth or Butterfinger candy bars were sold for $1.66 each and a bag of Tootsie Rolls were only 73 cents.

35 years ago – 1986
The proposed Pine Cove Zoning Study was approved by the Riverside County Planning Commission. In most instances, the proposal downgraded use of property and included only six lots designated for commercial use.

30 years ago – 1991
Astronomer and Town Crier “Sky Watch” columnist Joe Neu wrote that folk should watch for one of the most prominent constellations in the fall night sky, Andromeda, named for a mythological princess.

25 years ago – 1996
In response to a drop in local tourism after the Bee Canyon Fire, Mary Zachar, along with her husband Rudy, owners of the Mile High Lodge (now Mile High Country Inn), were leading an effort of local businesses owners to promote Idyllwild. As a result, two “Magical Idyllwild” billboards were privately financed and installed along Interstate 10.

20 years ago – 2001
Idyllwild resident and film writer, director and actor Steve Savage was producing his independent, low-budget film “Turquoise,” shot mostly on the Hill.

15 years ago – 2006
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an $8,000 grant to the Mountain Community Patrol, a nonprofit whose volunteers provide crime prevention and community-safety programs on the Hill under the auspices of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
10 years ago – 2011
Insolvency for the Idyllwild Fire Protection District had been postponed. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a loan or advance of $450,000 to IFPD.

5 years ago – 2016
Brendan Steele joined the ranks of multiple winners on the PGA Tour when he fired a 65 in his closing round to post an 18-under-par 67-71-67-65 — 270 in the Safeway Open in Napa.

1 year ago – 2020
Despite COVID-19, Mayor Max was still busy. While he was not out greeting visitors in the center of town as he did pre-COVID, he had visitors to his home.