70 years ago – 1947 Game Warden Cliff Donham was double-crossed by the very squirrels he protected. When investigating his car’s lack of power, it was revealed that squirrels had been stuffing the exhaust pipe with acorns and nuts. 65 years ago – 1952 There was a flurry of new construction in the village. Next…
70 years ago – 1947 Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Carmen reminisced about the good old days in Idyllwild. They remembered Fern Valley as a fern-filled meadow without many trees, with cattle grazing in Round and Tahquitz valleys. 65 years ago – 1952 During a major snowstorm, Ada Morlan, Chamber secretary, left an evening committee meeting….
70 years ago – 1947 “Hurricane Force Winds Leave Idyllwild in a Shamble,” screamed the Town Crier’s page-one headline. The George Thomas Cedar, oldest tree on the mountain, was uprooted. 65 years ago – 1952 Heavy rains in Hemet almost flooded the Armistice Day parade, which included a float entered by the Idyllwild PTA. James…
70 years ago – 1947 The possibility of establishing a branch of the Riverside County Library in Idyllwild was being discussed. County funds were not adequate to hire a paid librarian, however, so volunteers were solicited. 65 years ago – 1952 Dick Elliott was named to head the Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce. 60 years ago…
70 years ago – 1947 Bingo games and raffles were declared illegal and all the local slot machines were yanked out, creating an economic setback on the Hill. 65 years ago – 1952 “Bugs” Stephenson, forestry patrolman, caught a young hunter red-handed shooting a fawn. Bugs had become well known among wayward hunters, having just…
70 years ago – 1947 Town Crier wound up its first year of publication, written, mimeographed and mailed from the Maxwell home. News was brought right to the front door as the Maxwells did not have a telephone. 65 years ago – 1952 Disaster struck an elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. James Bowlin, when their…
70 years ago – 1947 The newly formed house committee for Town Hall took steps to waterproof the basement, purchase oil heaters and provide restrooms. 65 years ago – 1952 Halfway through the deer hunting season, a record number of 374 bucks were tallied. Meanwhile, locals were spreading a tall tale about a hunter who…
65 years ago – 1952 Volunteers were busy finishing the interior of the Catholic Church in knotty pine. 60 years ago – 1957 Celebrating Fire Protection Week, Chief Bill Price rolled trucks into the school yard to demonstrate equipment. The show ended when assisting room mothers handed out ice cream cones to all. 55 years…
70 years ago – 1947 Postmaster Harry Wendelken lamented, “There’s Idyllwilds all over the country, and all the mail for the other Idyllwilds comes to this station.” 65 years ago – 1952 Wilma Chapman was conscientious about the change to standard time. She set her clock resolutely and hopped into bed. In the darkness of…
65 years ago – 1952 Extra game wardens were assigned to the mountains as deer season opened. A record crowd of hunters was anticipated. 60 years ago – 1957 Don and Thelma Frey, Cay Long, Jim Long, Paul Voss, and Chuck and Jo Slaback completed training and qualified as ham radio operators. 55 years ago…
