A swashbuckler named John Dewey Fiske swept into Fresno in the 1880's, building an imposing structure to match his personality and attracting Wild West drama to the intersection of Mariposa and Fulton (then J) Streets. It was also the scene of one of early day Fresno's most notorious murders, that of Fiske himself. The grand building gave way to wrecking ball in 1914, for the construction of the 10-story Griffith-McKenzie Building, know today as the Helm Building. This is part of an occasional series, "Historical Perspectives," by John Walker that takes a look at valley landmarks in the past and present perspectives. Read more on the Fiske story or
see the Historical Perspectives main project, with photo galleries, videos and an interactive map.