On February 16 1884, floodwaters covered every street in Fresno. Floods threatened to wipe out Fresno every winter because Fresno was located in the sink of four creeks: Dry Creek ran just to the north of town; Red Banks and Dog Creek merged in the flatlands to the east; and Fancher Creek ran nearby with the center of Fresno as the confluent point. This photo depicts the situation on K Street, with the photographer looking north from Fresno Street. The Mill Ditch is visible in the foreground on Fresno Street. This irrigation ditch was built in 1878 by Moses J. Church to power his Champion Flour Mill at the corner of Fresno and N Streets. Several narrow plank bridges are seen spanning the ditch. The first building on the right is the J. Williams Blacksmith and Wagon Shop. The following structure is the F. Banta Eureka Planing Mill. The steeple of the Methodist Church can be seen in the distance.
