65 years ago – 1952 Work began on a new bridge across Strawberry Creek at Fern Valley Corners, replacing a 25-year-old wooden structure. 60 years ago – 1957 It was the wettest May anyone could remember. The season’s total rain and snowfall was 5 inches below normal, but late rains and snows were extremely beneficial…
50 years ago – 1967 County supervisors approved a request from the Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce for the relocation of butane space heaters at Town Hall. 45 years ago – 1972 Mrs. Iva Lee Bowen of Idyllwild, was killed in a head-on collision with a California Highway Patrol car on Lamb’s Canyon Road between Beaumont…
55 years ago – 1962 Foster Lake opened for trout fishing. 50 years ago – 1967 Fire commissioners voted to purchase a portion of the Idyllwild Inn property as a site for the new fire station. 45 years ago – 1972 Jessica Hamilton just couldn’t wait. She was delivered in the fire department ambulance near…
70 years ago – 1947 The U.S. Forest Service reported the insect situation had become critical in the Idyllwild area. Warm weather added another hatch of bugs and 750 trees were infected. 65 years ago – 1952 The season’s rainfall totaled 43 inches. • • • Town Crier saluted Denis Evarts Bowman as one of…
60 years ago – 1957 Bee Krone composed the song “Let’s Keep America Beautiful,” and Philippe Buhler composed music for a string quartet that was given a first performance at the University of Redlands. 55 years ago – 1962 The County Board of Supervisors launched a campaign to have the Banning-Idyllwild Highway taken into a…
65 years ago – 1952 The Kretsingers wrote from Nebraska, very homesick for Idyllwild. • • • The congregation of the Community Church accepted Rev. Warner’s resignation. 60 years ago – 1957 A well-organized search party covered a great deal of rough country between the Stone Creek and Pine Cove areas. They found a lost…
65 years ago – 1952 The Chamber of Commerce boasted 66 business members and 223 nonbusiness members. 60 years ago – 1957 The Forest Service reported the poorest snow pack since the annual surveys began. Average depth on the course was 3.15 inches, with several of the measuring points bare. 55 years ago – 1962…
65 years ago – 1952 Dr. M.M. Null announced that he had hundreds of small sequoias to be given to residents and property owners free of charge. The little redwoods were grown for planting in the community. 60 years ago – 1957 Clarence Bischof purchased the San Jacinto Lumber Yard. 55 years ago – 1962…
65 years ago – 1952 Townsfolk were invited to a premiere showing of “Ballad of Idyllwild,” a movie made on the campus of ISOMATA (now Idyllwild Arts Academy). Marais and Miranda were the authors, and Meredith Willson contributed to the theme song. 60 years ago – 1957 Diane Hunt, daughter of the Errol Hunts, and…
60 years ago – 1957 Police called off the search for Stephen D. Gallagher, who was reported missing while hiking in Tahquitz Canyon. All that was found of him were his clothes and shoes, which he removed before his disappearance. 55 years ago – 1962 Three women joined the Pine Cove fire department’s rescue squad…
