Past Tense

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    Past Tense: April 21, 2016

    65 years ago – 1951 The last troop of Marines left Dark Canyon after completing several months of cold weather training to prepare for combat in Korea. 60 years ago – 1956 Members of several community groups — the Hilltoppers, Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club and the PTA — met to discuss the development of…

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    Past Tense: April 14, 2016

    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…

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    Past Tense: April 7, 2016

    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…

  • Past Tense: March 31, 2016

    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…

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    Past Tense: March 24, 2016

    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…

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    Past Tense: March 17, 2016

    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…

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    Past Tense: March 10, 2016

    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…

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    Past Tense: March 3, 2016

    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…

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    Past Tense: February 25, 2016

    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…