65 years ago – 1951 The Department of Fish and Game released a flock of 28 Mexican Bronze wild turkeys. The intent was to establish a plentiful enough population to permit hunting in local forests. 60 years ago – 1956 A group of green thumbers met at Hazel Wright’s home to form the Idyllwild Garden…
65 years ago – 1951 Ranchers and property owners in the Anza Valley organized an electric cooperative to bring electricity to 300,000 agricultural acres. 60 years ago – 1956 Max and Bee Krone, together with Meredith Wilson, wrote a new Smokey Bear song that was approved by the U.S. Congress. The Krones also finished another…
60 years ago – 1956 The American Legion Post 800 elected Kent Bischof to be Idyllwild’s representative to Boys State. 55 years ago – 1961 The Idyllwild Post Office moved to a new location beside Eleanor Park in the center of town. It boasted 880 boxes, more than twice the former number. 50 years ago…
65 years ago – 1951 Hazel Cress raised more than $60 for the Mountain Branch of the American Red Cross going door-to-door in a single-day campaign. 60 years ago – 1956 The Idyllwild Inn was growing more mountainy every minute. In addition to the Indian motif, mountain-made Pinecraft furniture had been added to the lobby…
65 years ago – 1951 A civilian flyer crashed in the Dutch Flat area. Rescuers had found him stumbling barefoot along the highway, after spending more than 24 hours in the snow and temperatures that dipped to 15 degrees. 60 years ago – 1956 Lucille Ball and children were guests at Woodland Park Manor. 55…
65 years ago – 1951 The Forest Service announced that, beginning in summer, it would issue a special certificate to everyone who climbed to the Tahquitz Lookout. They would be issued a membership card in the “Ancient and Honorable Order of Squirrels.” 60 years ago – 1956 All Hill residents were invited to a baby…
65 years ago – 1951 Snow plows were busy with a 2-foot snowfall. 60 years ago – 1956 Chamber Membership Chair Glenn Froehlich reported that reaching the goal of 500 Chamber memberships was getting close with a current total of 394 members. 55 years ago – 1961 Because of the continued absence of moisture, the…
65 years ago – 1951 Ideas for community betterment were discussed at a Chamber of Commerce meeting. Among the suggestions offered: youth projects and recreation facilities, trash cans around the village, conservation education and individual meditation. Seems like some individuals have been meditating on these issues for some time. 60 years ago – 1956 The…
65 years ago – 1951 The Lions Club was making plans to construct a children’s playground adjacent to Town Hall. 60 years ago – 1956 It was Civil Defense Week on the Hill. Local stores were displaying emergency supplies and residents were asked to learn about being prepared for an emergency. 55 years ago –…
65 years ago – 1951 Town Crier founder and publisher Ernie Maxwell was the moderator of the Chamber’s Community Night for “the Hillfolk’s get-together to exchange ideas of what they want to see accomplished on the Hill.” 60 years ago – 1956 A group of locals set up an Idyllwild booth at the Indio…
