70 years ago – 1949 Gala event of the week was the reopening of the Rustic Theatre. The feature was “El Paso,” starring John Wayne and Gail Russell. 65 years ago – 1954 State Park Supervisor Frank Davies announced construction of five new campsites. 60 years ago – 1959 American Legion Post 800 received an…
70 years ago – 1949 Dr. Harry Pearlman, Louis Pearlman, Louis Artin and Sam Melca started up Devil’s Slide Trail hoping to hike down the desert side. But after nine hours of floundering in snow up to their armpits, they reappeared in Fern Valley. 65 years ago – 1954 A San Bernardino radio show host…
70 years ago – 1949 A crew of 70 RKO people descended on the Idyllwild Inn. They were to shoot location scenes for a Tim Holt western. Along with the troupe came Holt’s favorite palomino, Lightning. 65 years ago – 1954 The biggest angling crowd on record came to the mountain for the opening of…
70 years ago – 1949 The new school building, housing second- through seventh-grades, was being readied for an open house. 65 years ago – 1954 Parents and PTA members voted to recommend that seventh-grade students be sent to Hemet Junior High School the next year on a one-year trial basis. 60 years ago – 1959…
70 years ago – 1949 More tracks of the mountain lion previously sighted around Ernie Maxwell’s cabin were spotted. The visitor seemed to be more curious than hungry. 65 years ago – 1954 Oscar Lawler, prominent Los Angeles attorney, donated his 80-acre estate in the Dark Canyon area to the county. The donation was made…
70 years ago – 1949 The snow survey team discovered about 6 feet of snow in Tahquitz Valley. 60 years ago – 1959 A new gateway marked the entrance to Idyllwild Pines Camp. Eighty tons of rock were used in the 19-foot-high supports. A 12-ton pine timber measuring 42 feet in length rested on top….
Editor: Wow! What a fantastically wonderful “collection” of caring, intelligent, ambitious, focused government people working for “our” good. To see the cooperation and interchange from all those groups of people at Monday night’s community meeting was an incredibly positive experience. And I appreciate MDP for putting it together so concisely. Jean Stein Idyllwild
70 years ago – 1949 Plans called for completion of the Idyllwild-Banning Highway by summertime. 65 years ago – 1954 Three search parties were looking for three teenage boys lost in the mountains. They finally emerged, unhurt but hungry, in Tahquitz Canyon. 60 years ago – 1959 Woodland Park Manor and Idyll-a-Wyle Cabins changed hands….
70 years ago – 1949 Forty-five people gathered at the Idyllwild Inn, attending a shower to help Shirley Wood refurnish her burned-out home. 65 years ago – 1954 Lake Hemet Water Company was purchased by Eastern Municipal Water District. 60 years ago – 1959 The Idyllwild Rotary Club invited the public to attend a presentation…
70 years ago – 1949 Caretakers of the Bunker Ranch found themselves snowbound for seven weeks with dwindling provisions. 65 years ago – 1954 The Isaac Walton League built and installed 14 signs to warn motorists about deer on local highways. 60 years ago – 1959 More than 60 mountaineers attended a workshop, sponsored by…
