70 years ago – 1952
Capt. Carmen Durr-ance, international president of NIP, was on the Hill. NIP stands for Not Important People. The organization was founded on April Fool’s Day.
65 years ago – 1957
Work started on Bluebird Hill Lodge, planned to be Idyllwild’s most elaborate motel. A children’s playground, a coffee shop and glassed-in brunch rooms were promised. Dr. Trestin Harris was the owner.
60 years ago – 1962
Fish and Game Department surveyors found a large lamb crop among the bighorn sheep in the Santa Rosa Mountains. The ratio was 42 lambs observed per 100 ewes.
55 years ago – 1967
Mickey Regal and Lora Steere, with others, climbed to Tahquitz Peak. At one point, Mickey’s legs went mushy. But some passersby reassured her: “If you fall, you know you’ll be killed, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
50 years ago – 1972
A fire of incendiary origin burned 200 acres in May Valley, 2 airline miles south of Idyllwild.
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As Idyllwild had earlier, Pine Cove placed limitations on water use during the shortage.
40 years ago – 1982
More than 100 people participated in a Renaissance pageant at USC-Idyllwild.
30 years ago – 1992
The Idyllwild Clinic celebrated its first year on the Hill.
25 years ago – 1997
The Historic Idyllwild house was finally removed from the property of Idyllwild School. It had been named Zo House after the previous owner, Mary Zo Judson.
15 years ago – 2007
Gov. Arnold Schwar- zenegger proclaimed a state of emergency. Schwarzenegger highlighted the drought damage to the water supply for people, as well as $4 million in crop losses.
10 years ago – 2012
Jennifer Gee became the new director of the University of California James Reserve north of Idyllwild.
5 years ago – 2017
Idyllwild Water District filed a $50,000 lawsuit against its own director, Steven Kunkle.
1 year ago – 2021
At the Idyllwild Water District (IWD) meeting, Bob Geary, a member of the public, commented on the $3,518.29 water bill he and his partner received, which bill claimed that 249,308 gallons of water were delivered by IWD to their home during the 30-day period.
