Past Tense

Past Tense: May 23, 2013

Past Tense: May 23, 2013

65 years ago – 1948 A cold wave caused temperatures to drop to 23 degrees. 60 years ago – 1953 Woodland Park Manor held an open house, inviting the community to inspect its completely furnished units. Accommodation rates were $10 to $15 per couple. 55 years ago – 1958 Ernie Maxwell’s mother, Maude Maxwell, was…

Past Tense: May 16, 2013

Past Tense: May 16, 2013

65 years ago – 1948 Plans were being made for The Wild Idle Days celebration to be held in July. 60 years ago – 1953 Dick and Virginia Homan took over operation of the Hillbilly Variety Store while owner Edith Oliver recuperated from surgery. 55 years ago – 1958 Idyllwild’s first massage parlor was opened….

Past Tense: May 9, 2013

Past Tense: May 9, 2013

65 years ago – 1948 Fern Valley Mutual Water Company installed a 420,000-gallon water tank on Strawberry Creek. 60 years ago – 1953 A record-breaking crowd of anglers hit the Hill for the opening of trout season. A crowd of 1,500 to 2,000 lined banks of Strawberry Creek shoulder-to-shoulder on opening day. 55 years ago…

Past Tense: May 2, 2013

Past Tense: May 2, 2013

65 years ago – 1948 A handful of energetic men, women and children scrambled up and down Strawberry Creek, building little dams. The purpose was to deepen the pools and provide quieter living conditions for fish. 60 years ago – 1953 The Chamber of Commerce published a 32-page pictorial magazine called “We Live in Idyllwild”…

Past Tense: April 25, 2013

Past Tense: April 25, 2013

65 years ago – 1948 All major streams in the mountains had been stocked for the May 1 trout opener. Among the volunteers were a couple of young boys, Jimmy Johnson and Don Brolin. 60 years ago – 1953 The Chamber of Commerce took action to see how the disturbance caused by bugles and loudspeakers…

Past Tense: April 18, 2013

Past Tense: April 18, 2013

65 years ago – 1948 The Town Crier reported that Editor Ernie Maxwell’s cat had five new kittens. 60 years ago – 1953 Sunset magazine featured an article about Idyllwild. 55 years ago – 1958 Actor David Niven stopped at Doro’s Market and visited for a while. 50 years ago – 1963 Five Orange County…

Past Tense: April 11, 2013

Past Tense: April 11, 2013

65 years ago – 1948 The Town Crier noted evidence that the dog population was getting out of hand: “Many pets are apparently dissatisfied with their homes and prefer just to hang around the post office.” 60 years ago – 1953 County Civil Defense Coordinator Col. O.S. Dresher told a Town Hall audience that the…

Past Tense: April 4, 2013

65 years ago – 1948 Chess and bridge were favorite features of evenings at Idyllwild Inn. 60 years ago – 1953 Nearly 30 members had signed up for the newly organized Rifle and Pistol Club sponsored by the American Legion Post 800. 55 years ago – 1958 The Sikkings were about to open their new…

Past Tense: March 28, 2013

Past Tense: March 28, 2013

65 years ago – 1948 As the Lions entertained in honor of their daughters, Ernie Maxwell contributed a chalk talk on “Feminine Fashion.” 60 years ago – 1953 Two bald eagles were frequenting the Foster Lake area. 55 years ago – 1958 The Chamber of Commerce listed public restrooms among its study projects for the…