Prospectors, Ranching, and Logging. 
In 1860, prospectors searched for gold in the mountains of San Jacinto. On August 1, 1865, a prospector wrote a letter to his wife about his discovery of gold. As many as 89 mining claims were established in the area. Harold Kenworthy purchased a gold mine in Garner Valley, and a boom town named after him sprang up with a store, hotel, assay office, school, and 200 residents. It did not last very long. Kenworthy discovered he had been swindled. The person who sold him the mine had "salted" it with shotgun blasts of gold dust fired into the rocks. When the mine closed, so did the town. Ranching was more successful with 14 different cattle brands on the mountain.
In 1875, Joseph Crawford received approval from the County to build a toll road up the mountain. He spent two years constructing the "Crawford Toll Road" on the Hemet side of the mountain. His primitive wagon road was narrow, rough, and steep. Crawford charged buggies and wagons 75 cents to use the road. Horseback riders were charged 10 cents. 
Crawford's Road terminated at the location of the current Idyllwild Arts Academy, where it became Tollgate Road. [The dirt road is still used by hikers and is now named the Control Road.]
Crawford's Road attracted loggers who cut timber for the Southern Pacific Railroad and for homes, businesses, and crates for shipping oranges. At one point, 18 sawmills operated on the mountain. Oxen and mule teams transported lumber down Crawford's steep, poorly maintained road. In some places, teamsters dragged logs behind their wagons to slow their descent. Because Crawford failed to maintain his road, it became heavily rutted and, in places, washed out, making it hard on man and beast alike. Loggers were tired of paying tolls for such a poorly maintained road and petitioned the County to make the road public. The Supervisors agreed, canceled Crawford's 50-year lease, and in 1888 made the road public. Doing so brought more visitors and entrepreneurs to the area.
Camp Idylwilde & Lake Hemet. In 1889, George and Sarah Hannahs bought 1,300 acres in Strawberry Valley, so named for wild strawberries that grew everywhere along the creek. They built a summer camp next to their sawmill and named it Camp Idyllwilde. Its location (now the park in the center of town) would become the home of a small settlement.
From 1891 to 1895, a dam was constructed in Garner Valley to create a large reservoir of water named "Lake Hemet." To facilitate construction, a less hazardous road from Hemet was built so supplies and equipment could be taken to the location. When the dam was completed, it was 122.5 feet tall, making it the largest solid masonry dam in the world.
The new road and lake attracted more visitors and settlers. A local stage offered 6-hour trips up the mountain for $3. Visitors could stay in Hannahs' facilities for $8 per week for room and board. If they were willing to cook for themselves, prices were reduced to $3 per month for tents and $10 for cottages.
George Hannahs became the first landowner to subdivide his land and sell individual lots. In 1893, he established the first post office on the mountain. In 1899, Hannahs sold Camp Idyllwilde to a group of doctors from Los Angeles who built the Idyllwild Sanatorium in 1901. They believed their patients would benefit from the clean mountain air. [Locals had their own remedies for ailments, which required a pint of whiskey.] As people moved into the area, the settlement went through a succession of names. It progressed from Idylwilde to Idylwood, to Idylwild, and then Idlewild. After much discussion, “Idyllwild” became official in 1901.
Banning Road. That same year, all private toll roads were made public, and tourism quickly increased as people no longer had to pay to travel up the mountain. In 1910, the popularity of Idyllwild as a summer destination with tents and cabins increased dramatically with the construction of a 31-mile road from Banning. The work was done by hand crews, mules, and wagons. The new road made Idyllwild accessible by stagecoach and automobile. Those who drove the popular Model T were told to take extra water in case the car overheated on the way up the mountain.
In 1911, the Banning-Idyllwild Stage Line opened and provided round-trip passage to Idyllwild. A cabin in nearby Pine Cove, constructed in 1849 out of 10-inch cordwood logs, became one of the stops for the new stage line. It also served as a post office, general store, and horse stable. When lawman Wyatt Earp visited San Bernardino, he would ride the stagecoach up the mountain to play poker in the cabin. [The cabin later became a tavern, an art gallery, and finally, a residence.]
First Sunday School. In 1910, a local sawmill owner, Mr. Eubanks, closed his mill on Sundays so workmen and their families could gather at his cabin to study the Bible and sing hymns. His employees and local residents rode horseback or walked on dirt roads to attend his Sunday services. It was here that the Idyllwild Community Church began. As the town grew, so did the Church.
C.L. Emerson. The Idyllwild Sanatorium burned down in 1904 and was rebuilt in 1905 as the Idyllwild Inn. In 1917, Claudius L Emerson bought the Inn and 1,000 adjoining acres. He planned to build a resort that would attract families to what he considered the area's finest living conditions. According to one Church member, Emerson did more to foster religious life in Idyllwild than anyone else. He promoted the community's religious services and its Sunday School.
Emerson published Idyllwild Breezes, a small paper that chronicled the valley’s growth and listed activities for visitors. Many editions included information about the Community Church and its Sunday School services. His September 14, 1920 edition consisted of a single 8 1/2 x 11 sheet folded in half. It grew into an 8-page paper as the town grew.
In 1919, Emerson donated land to the Boy Scouts, which became Camp Emerson, making it one of the oldest Boy Scout camps in the West. Visitors to the area could rent a cottage for $30-75 per month or a platform tent for $6 per week or buy a half-acre home site from Emerson for $350. His vision was to turn Idyllwild into a resort.
Church by the Creek. In the 1920s, the congregation grew too large to meet in Eubanks' cabin and moved their meetings to a beautiful area called "the Bowl" near Strawberry Creek (where the Butterflied Amphitheater is now located). 
Mary Sigworth, whose family bought a vacation cabin in Idyllwild in 1925, remembered the one-way rutted roads. She also remembered that "services were among the trees beside the Creek, which flowed with its own melodious sound over large rocks." The pews were benches and a few folding chairs. Music was accompanied by a small pump organ transported to and from the Creek each Sunday. Mr. Eubanks' daughter remembered that "The new Belhorn portable organ added greatly to the enjoyment of the music."
Visiting Pastors. The outdoor services were inspirational and known all over California. According to Meta Bergan, "If there was a special feature of worship that everyone remembers from the early days, it is the outdoor services that were conducive to a spirit of mountain worship that is difficult to capture in a building." The beautiful setting attracted many pastors who would vacation in Idyllwild and preach for the congregation. Children were sent to Sunday School classes in designated areas for different age groups near certain trees, where they sat in the grass with a teacher. One of the notices in 1921 read, "Sunday School attendance 113--there were 37 in the adult class."
Electricity. 
Electricity came to Idyllwild in 1923 when a power line was installed from San Jacinto Valley to Idyllwild. Before then, electricity was supplied by a generator from Emerson's sawmill and was turned off each night at 10:00 p.m. With the installation of continuous power, visitors streamed into the area to rent tent cabins. Many bought lots and built vacation cabins. Emerson's 1924 Idyllwild Breezes reported on a pageant under the pines, a sightseeing bus, lots for sale, a barn dance, picnics, and supper at Inspiration Point.
The paper also reported that a "Week Day Bible Study Class Makes a Good Record" under the leadership of Rev. F. H. Mixsell, and "the school of this summer surpassed all previous efforts." In addition, Dr. Hunter gave a lecture on "China and Her Religions," which was illustrated with beautiful slides. A prayer service on Wednesday night was conducted by Dr. Hunter, who talked about how to study the Bible.
Community Leaders. Rita Patton, a member of the congregation and known as a dispenser of goodwill, became the town's Postmistress. C.J. Carlson, the first scoutmaster at Camp Emerson, doubled as Sunday School superintendent when they met in the Bowl in 1924. When classes could not be held outdoors, they met in a cabin across from the Fire Station. At that point, Idyllwild had an all-volunteer force that began near the turn of the century. [It would remain all-volunteer until 1960, when it hired a fire chief and a dispatcher. Two church members would become fire chiefs for the department and eventually employed 30 people. The first was Don Gilden. During his tenure, the fire department bought its second fire engine. It was constructed in Appleton, Wisconsin. To save shipping expenses, Don and his wife Joyce flew to Wisconsin and drove the fire engine cross-country to Idyllwild. When Don retired, church member Tim Gustafson became Fire Chief, and the department bought its third fire engine.]
Vesper Services. Movie director Cecil B. DeMille discovered Idyllwild in 1914 and began filming movies in the area. At least 20 feature films were shot in Garner and Strawberry valleys in the 1920s. Western stars such as Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Gene Autry, Tom Mix, Tex Ritter, Audie Murphy, Hopalong Cassidy, and others filmed shows in Garner Valley. Waves of tourists, campers, part-time residents, and film crews made Idyllwild a congested mix of cars, horses, and lost mules.
Idyllwild Inn. The Idyllwild Inn was managed by Emerson's wife Zelma. They drafted marketing materials for the Inn highlighting activities such as dancing, bowling, swimming, a restaurant, golf, tennis, and trail riding. Before long, the Community Church was holding vesper services (evening prayer) in the lobby of the Idyllwild Inn with more than 100 persons in attendance. Theresa Doremeyer wrote, "The spirit of rowdyism and the things that make for disregard of the Sabbath were not permitted at the services, and they have never shown themselves."
By 1925, Emerson had built a golf course and was selling golf club memberships as well as lots for cabins and explored building an airport at Dutch Flat. When not in church, Emerson and his wife oversaw departments owned and operated by their company, Idyllwild Inc. These included a general store, meat market, garage, lumber yard, saddle livery, water company, hand laundry, homesite subdivisions, dairy, delicatessen and sweet shop, warehouse, construction company, housekeeping, and truck gardens.
The Manse. That same year, the church congregation bought land to build a house called a "Manse" that would serve as a residence for visiting missionaries and pastors. The Manse was built by Mr. Bryant, who was also deemed an "outstanding builder in spiritual matters." The Manse significantly advanced the religious life of Idyllwild. The residence allowed many distinguished ministers and missionaries to visit and lead the outdoor congregation in worship. It became the meeting place for all of Idyllwild. The first communion service in Idyllwild was held in the Manse. The table was a little square kitchen table spread with a simple lunch cloth. The smallest glasses that could be found were used to serve the juice.
New Minister. The June 30, 1928 edition of the Idyllwild Breezes reported that "Idyllwild Has a New Minister." It reported that Sunday school was held in ‘the bowl” Sunday mornings, with preaching in the large lobby of the Idyllwild Inn on Sunday evenings by guest clergymen. The paper announced that “This year Idyllwild is to have a settled pastor,” Rev. Wallace T. McAfee. It described his years in China as a missionary. It recounted how he and his wife Edna had to take refuge in a gunboat in the Yangste River when an army marched through the province and invaded their home, taking most of their articles. According to church records, Mr. McAfee was very popular with the congregation and "filled the Manse with treasures from the Orient."
First Sunrise Service. The congregation held its first sunrise service in 1929 at Idyllwild Pines. The camp had opened the year before as the first religious camp in Idyllwild and offered training to church leaders. Victor Cole heralded the rising sun with his horn, and for nine succeeding Easter Sundays, it was Victor who led off the sunrise services. Coral Belden arranged sunrise services in Pine Cove for a number of years and had everyone over for breakfast afterward.
Pinecraft Furniture. 
Coral's husband, Charles "Seldon" Belden, was born in New Jersey in 1889. He and his brother homesteaded land in Canada, where Seldon met and married Coral. In 1933, friends invited them to spend Christmas in Pine Cove. Access to Idyllwild had improved the year before with the construction of the 36-mile Palms-to-Pines Highway, which offered a new route to Idyllwild from Palm Springs and a stop at Keen Camp. The Beldens made the trip to Pine Cove and were captivated by the area. They moved to Idyllwild and opened the Pinecraft Furniture Company. Selden made handcrafted knotty-pine furniture, some of which made their way to the Manse. His furniture was sold locally, but developed a reputation and began shipping to San Diego, Yosemite, Idaho, Virginia, Wyoming, and New Mexico. The furniture is now a valuable collectible item.
General Patton. The number of vacationers and tourists visiting Idyllwild continued to increase, and in 1941 the Village Market opened. Servicemen and their families from General George S. Patton's tank corps stationed near Twentynine Palms would spend weekends in the cooler mountain air of Idyllwild. They were training for desert warfare against Field Marshall Erwin Rommel in North Africa. General Patton stabled his horses in Idyllwild and drove up on weekends to eat at the Rustic Tavern (later to become the Silver Pines Lodge) and to go trail riding. Many of his troops would stay at the Idyllwild Inn, which was destroyed by fire in 1945 and never rebuilt. General Patton's stables on Falling Leaf Drive were later converted into a house, which became the home of Church member James Jennison.
Church Choir. The Church formed a choir and, in the late 1940s, held rehearsals at the Tahquitz Pines, a camp established by Wycliffe Translators. Church member Mabel Lein would conduct the choir during worship services that sometimes met in the newly constructed Town Hall. (The Hall was built by residents and merchants on land donated by Gerald E. Johnson so the community would have a place to meet and socialize.)
Thunder Storm. The congregation continued to meet outdoors during the summer but moved their services from Strawberry Creek to an area under the trees to the left of the Manse. In August 1945, visiting pastor John Abels observed, "If we do not have a new tarpaulin or a more adequate worshiping place, we will be rained out." No sooner did he say it than thunder shook the mountain, and a cloudburst soaked people as they dashed for the Manse. Once inside, they voted to start a Chapel Fund and appointed a committee to raise money to build a permanent structure. "We sang hymns for over an hour, and suddenly the chapel fund began to grow. It always seemed to surprise people that we were not a full-fledged church."
Vote to Organize. On August 12, 1945, the congregation's Board of Management voted unanimously to formally organize the congregation with interested persons of all denominations. A dozen denominations were already represented in the congregation. The committee was composed of Rollin Humber, Arthur Casebeer, and Mel Rideout, all of whom became the first elders of the congregation. Mel Rideout and his wife Ella came up the steep grade in 1910, and by 1939 they were summer residents who always supported the Church. Arthur Casebeer's wife Florence oversaw the Church's music programs. Rollin Humber and his wife Margaret were active in the community and always under the pine trees at morning worship.
Rollin Humber. Rollin Humber was born in Montana in 1886 and migrated to Idyllwild in 1939 to work for the Idyllwild Mountain Park Company, which owned 2,600 acres in Fern Valley. The company subdivided its property and sold lots for homes. In addition to his role in the Church, Rollin was active in the Chamber of Commerce and served as President of the Fern Valley Water Company.
A large granite feature named "Tahquitz Rock" overlooked the town. In 1898, it acquired a second name, "Lily Rock," from Dr. Sanford Eastman, the first Secretary of the Southern California Colony Association (which later became Riverside). He named it after his daughter Lily. Visitors made trail rides to Tahquitz Rock as early as 1907. In the 1930s, it became the site of the earliest rock climbing in the United States. In 1936, the Sierra Club began using Tahquitz Rock and neighboring Suicide Rock for organized climbs.
With the cooperation of the U.S. Forest Service and Riverside County convicts, a park was created with scenic trails to Tahquitz Rock, Marion Ridge, and the Devil's Slide. The Yosemite Decimal System of grading routes was developed at Tahquitz by members of the Rock Climbing Section of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club. "Humber Park" was named in honor of church member Rollin Humber.
Elders Ordained. In August 1946, the Management Committee sent letters to the community advising residents that an all-year church would be established. On August 28, 1946, the Community Church was officially organized. On September 1, 1946, the first charter members were publicly received, elders ordained, officers installed, and a full-time pastor hired (see list of pastors). On October 6, 1946, the congregation held its first service as an officially organized church.
On the Saturday before Easter, Mary Humber oversaw an Easter egg hunt by preschool tots. On Easter morning, the Sunday school held a special morning program at the Manse. This was followed by Dr. Hugh K. Fulton conducting the 11 a.m. service. The regular Sunday night Bible Class met that evening at 7:30 p.m.
Women's Guild Formed. In 1947, a "Women's Guild" was formed with Winnie Phillips as the Guild's first President. The women adopted a guiding purpose, which was obedience to God's call in Jesus Christ, helping one another grow in Christian faith and understanding, and acting in Christian concern for God's people everywhere.
In 1949, the Guild raised money for a new roof for the Manse. In 1950, they published "The Mountain Range," a loose-leaf 80-page collection of recipes that sold for $1.50. Louella Hoffman chaired the committee that compiled the recipes. Each recipe had the name of the Church member who prepared it. The illustrations were done by Ernie Maxwell. Ernie and his wife Betty moved to Fern Valley in 1944 and founded "The Town Crier" in 1946. (Ernie also published a simplified guide to the Pines of the San Jacinto Mountains and marketing material for the Chamber of Commerce.)
[Thank you to Cindy Wood Allert, for providing a copy of the recipe book. It was handed down to her by her mother-in-law, Shirley Hoffman Wood, a longtime member of the Church who lived in the large house adjacent to the Manse. Shirley was born in 1928 and moved to Idyllwild with her parents when she was 8 years old. Her mother, Luella Hoffman, chaired the cookbook committee.]
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Sanctuary Constructed. The congregation secured a loan of $11,000 and chose architect Jack Lemon to design a building that would become home to the congregation and where meetings and Sunday services could be held. Mr. Lemon prepared concept drawings using pen and charcoal, which he then converted into a watercolor rendering that quickly received approval.
Once architectural plans were prepared, construction began on July 29, 1950, with a great deal of volunteer labor. The building was completed in 1951 at the cost of $33,000. For the first time in 41 years, the congregation had a permanent home. The Community Church quickly became the center of many community activities in Idyllwild.
1950 is also the year that the Banning-to-Idyllwild road was paved and renamed Highway 243. It increased the flow of visitors to the town and boosted the sale of vacation cabins. In 1952, Rev. Don Dilworth and his wife Bess, back from 12 years in Tanganyika (now part of Tanzania), showed slides and told of their experiences. During choir rehearsal, Pastor Dilworth's car was stolen. Fortunately, it was recovered en route to Hemet at a roadblock.
Organ Symphonies. In the 1950s, Idyllwild continued to grow and attracted musical talents such as composer, arranger, and accomplished organist Edward Shippen Barnes, who led the Church choir. After graduating from Yale University, he continued his studies in Paris. Upon his return to the United States, he worked as an organist for churches in New York from 1911 to 1924 and Philadelphia from 1924 to 1938 before making his way to Santa Monica, California, and then to Idyllwild.
Dr. Barnes composed organ symphonies and wrote books about religious music. When he moved to Idyllwild, he joined the Community Church, where he wrote and arranged much of their music. [Dr. Barnes' organ symphonies are available on iTunes. One of his works can be heard here.]
Mabel Lein and Dr. Barnes often played piano-organ duets written by him. Mabel had graduated from the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, where she majored in Christian Education Music. She and her husband Marty joined the Community Church, and Mabel became its pianist in 1968. Marty found work at Tahquitz Pines Christian Camp, which he managed for 44 years.
Passing of Rollin Humber. In 1955 Rollin Humber, who was known as the father of Fern Valley, passed at the age of 69. Services were held by Roger Hillis, pastor of the Community Church. The following year, a $6,500 Baldwin organ was dedicated to the Church in memory of Rollin Humber. Dr. Barnes was the major donor and remained active in the music program until his death in 1958. Mabel continued to play hymns on the Baldwin organ every Sunday until her passing at age 96 in 2018.
Episcopalians. From 1954 through 1957, a small group of Episcopalians, lacking a church of their own in which to worship, began to meet in the Fireside Room of the Community Church. Retired priest Rev. David Soltau officiated during the summer months when he was in residence in his mountain cabin. Upon his departure from the area, Rev. Schippling took over at the same location during the summers. Eventually, St. Hugh's Episcopal Church was established as a mission by the Diocese of San Diego, and permanent facilities were acquired for the congregation.
Church Bell. The church bell, which rings out every Sunday morning, was donated to the Community Church by Rev. E. D. Hoffman, uncle of church member Shirley Wood. It had originally been used in the First Methodist Church in Upland, where Rev. Hoffman officiated. The bell was mounted on the roof over the Fireside Room and officially dedicated on April 13, 1958.
Musicals & Concerts. The 1960s brought Dr. Joseph Saeteit to Idyllwild as Director of the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts (ISOMATA). Dr. Saeteit joined the Community Church and conducted the choir. ISOMATA was founded in 1946 when the Dean of the University of Southern California's Law School in Los Angeles and 21 faculty members purchased 340 acres in Idyllwild and constructed a campus for the arts at the end of a road named Tollgate. In the 1970s, "Music Man" Terry Dann joined the church and produced community musicals, Christmas concerts, and choral spirituals. ISOMATA attracted artists, painters, musicians, authors, and sculptors, turning Idyllwild into an arts community. Over time, the town became home to more than 15 galleries, music festivals, and a film festival. In 1985, ISOMATA was renamed the Idyllwild Arts Academy and became the first independent boarding high school for the arts in the Western United States. From time to time, students from the Academy put on performances at the Community Church.
Stained Glass. Over time, many devoted people cared for and made additional improvements to the building. Stained glass windows depicting the Creation made by local artists were the gifts of Arkle, Ferne Bevis, and other members of the congregation.
Cottage Thrift Shoppe. In 1984 the Women's Guild was led by Lu Clavio, Kay Jennison, Robbie Hodges, and Jan Blong. The Guild decided to open a thrift shop as a service to the community. To make room for it, Sunday School classes were moved from the cottage to the Manse. With the help of their husbands, Guild members converted the building into the "Cottage Thrift Shoppe." Grace Moore obtained a business license and estimated for the county that annual sales might be $100 or less for the year. The Shoppe was opened on February 1, 1985, with Grace Moore serving as its director. (Grace also served as Grand Marshall of the town's 4th of July Parade.)
The Thrift Shoppe had two goals: (i) provide a mechanism for the community to funnel excess belongings to those in need and (ii) raise money to help support missionaries. The Guild placed an ad in the Town Crier to let the community know about the new Shoppe. The response from the community was strong, and sales were significantly more than the $100 originally estimated by Grace. The Thrift Shoppe quickly expanded into a large outdoor area adjacent to the cottage. Additional structures were added to handle the flow of contributions.
Because the open area for thrift items exposed everything to sun, rain, and snow, Church leadership decided to build a steel building to make donated items available to the community year-round. In June 2024, work began on a building. In September 2024, the Thrift Shop reopened as the "Community Church's Bargain Barn."
Manse. 
One of the last pastors to live in the Manse was Arthur French, who occupied it in the mid- to late 60s. His ashes now reside in the Columbarium in the courtyard. In 2017, a portion of the Manse was converted into an office and library for Pastor Bob Mitchell, with the remainder continuing to be used for Sunday School classes. In 2024, the Manse was renovated, new electrical wiring installed, and an ADA-compliant bathroom constructed.
Church Renovations. In 2019, the exterior of the church building was repainted, trees removed, and planters moved to make parking safer. A handicap ramp from the sidewalk to the patio area was added. The sanctuary was also updated by moving the sound control center to the back of the sanctuary and adding large screen TVs to the front of the room. In 2022, the building went through a renovation project that included repainting the sanctuary, installing new carpet, refinishing the pews, and upgrading the sound system.
Fireside Room Talks. In addition, the "Fireside Room," located off the main sanctuary, was converted into an overflow room for young families to use if their babies become fussy during Sunday services. The room allows them to watch services on a large-screen TV without disturbing others. In addition, the room was converted into a classroom for community-wide discussions on topics of interest, called "Big Idea Talks."
Continuing Purpose. From its very beginning in 1910 as a Sunday School, the Community Church became and continues to be a place where families can worship God and serve the community.
*Many thanks to the Idyllwild Area Historical Society for their permission to use information about Idyllwild and early photographs of the town. Additional thanks to Robin Miller who provided a large number of historical records and photographs. Mr. Miller moved to Idyllwild in 1959 with his parents. He and his father provided maintenance services to the Church in the 1970s. Materials from Church records, the Historical Society, Robin Miller, Cindy Allert, and the Women's Guild were compiled by Church member Adrian Adams.
