75 years ago – 1947August rainfall was already 3.72 inches. Average for the whole month in recent years had been running 1.23 inches.• • •Lightning struck more than 80 times in this section of the national forest during an August thunderstorm. Only five of the strikes, however, turned into fires. Because of the dampness, all…
75 years ago – 1947Idyllwild School faced a crisis. There wasn’t enough room to accommodate the anticipated enrollment of 125 kids.• • •“Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” starring Tyronne Power, Don Ameche and Alice Faye, was luring customers to the Rustic Theatre. 70 years ago – 1952More than 100 people from Monogram Studios invaded Idyllwild to film…
75 years ago – 1947Fern Valley Garage advertised “Expert Repair Service, Greeting Cards, Gift Wrappings.”• • •Electric power was on its way to Pine Cove. Plans for a line from the Idyllwild Substation had been started prior to the war but were curtailed because of shortages. 70 years ago – 1952“Tony Beaver,” a light opera…
75 years ago – 1947A new telephone service was inaugurated, offering six trunk lines to Hemet. 70 years ago – 1952Paul and Mary Gormley were manning the lookout post at Ranger Peak. During the rest of the year, the Gormleys worked as cook and butler for a family in the San Francisco area.• • •The…
Ordinance 927.1 Dear Editor:I have two small questions about the recent short-term rentals (STR) article. The first has to do with “All property owners who wish to offer their homes or other facility as an STR must obtain an STR certificate from the county.”As Woody Henderson’s research shows, Idyllwild already has half of all the…
70 years ago – 1952Capt. 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 – 1957Work started on Bluebird Hill Lodge, planned to be Idyllwild’s most elaborate motel. A children’s playground, a coffee shop and glassed-in brunch…
75 years ago – 1947Town Crier visited the Kretsingers: “In the front room, a rehearsal of the Mounted Music Makers was in process. Jean was strumming his guitar, Evie was at the piano and little George was singing at the top of his voice. Down at Kretsinger Corners, everyone gets a BANG out of living.”…
75 years ago – 1947A big celebration was planned to complete the community building, with Norma Sanborn in charge of the dance and entertainment. Residents were asked to bring their own chairs. Those wishing to donate chairs would get their names engraved on the back. 70 years ago – 1952The pool at Hidden Lodge was…
70 years ago – 1952Evie Kretsinger passed on a comment about TV: “Before the dawn of civilization, primitive man ate raw meat in dark caves and gazed at the pictographs he had painted on the walls. As man became civilized, he dined by candlelight and food became a social ritual. Now, man is right back…
75 years ago – 1947It was announced that whoever was nearest the button would blow the fire siren daily at noon. No guarantee was made, however, that the timing would be accurate. 70 years ago – 1952Mike Dunn and Mac McCullog trekked 20 miles over Tahquitz and down into Palm Springs. 65 years ago –…
