70 years ago – 1948 Saturday was designated Idyllwild Day at the County Fair and Date Festival. Idyllwild had a booth containing a chukker partridge and a ring-necked pheasant, plus samples of Pinecraft furniture. 60 years ago – 1958 More than a million visitors had flocked to the San Jacinto Mountains in 1957, according to…
70 years ago – 1948 The two-man Forest Service staff, Ranger Don Bauer and Fire Control Assistant Bill Hersh, hiked six hours to Martinez Mountain to check a fire started when a P-80 military jet crashed and exploded. 65 years ago – 1953 The American Legion picked a site between Idyllwild and Mountain Center for…
70 years ago – 1948 The Town Crier reported that lots of kids in town had chicken pox. 65 years ago – 1953 William Courtney, a Los Angeles attorney, addressed the Chamber of Commerce. He promised to tell “How to Keep the Government and a Wife on One Income.” 60 years ago – 1958 Bill…
70 years ago – 1948 Idyllwild’s barber Bert Playle moved away, leaving local men mourning. There were still three beauty operators to take care of the ladies’ hair. 65 years ago – 1953 The local American Legion announced it would sponsor Gary Thomas and Ken Bischof at the National Scout Jamboree. 60 years ago –…
70 years ago – 1948 Idyllwild was deciding if it should join the Hemet School District. 65 years ago – 1953 Martin Aguirre was in charge of the Lions Club project to raise funds for recreation equipment at Town Hall. Plans called for developing a playground adjacent to the building. 60 years ago – 1958…
70 years ago – 1948 At the Idyllwild Dairy, Liz, a 7-year-old Guernsey, hit a maximum yield of 11 gallons of milk per day. 65 years ago – 1953 A single-engine Navy Douglas Skyraider crashed into the mountain, killing its pilot. The plane was one of four flying a routine night flight. It became separated…
70 years ago – 1948 A Christmas fire at the dump caught many firemen in their Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. Swede Pitt tramped among the the burning debris in a starched white shirt and his best pants rolled to the knees. 65 years ago – 1953 Hope Bell, librarian, reported that circulation in the local library doubled…
70 years ago – 1947 A snowfall of 12 to 24 inches was believed attributable to dry ice dropped from a plane sent by Hemet Valley Flying Service and Cal Tech observers. 65 years ago – 1952 C. Selden Belden, pioneer resident and furniture maker, died in Hemet. 60 years ago – 1957 Fern Valley…
70 years ago – 1947 Everyone was invited to the first Christmas party in Town Hall. Ernie Maxwell was master-of-ceremonies and Charles Kretsinger led the carol singing. 65 years ago – 1952 Sale of Buckhorn Ranch at Dutch Flats to the Reorganized Church of Latter-day Saints was announced. 60 years ago – 1957 Vandals shot…
70 years ago – 1947 November had been a cold month with a low of 14 degrees. Joe McGaugh reported 10 degrees in his cow barn, but people thought he was just trying to get ice cream the easy way. 65 years ago – 1952 Town Hall was jammed for the annual Christmas party that…
