LOCAL HISTORY PROJECT

Bridge across the San Joaquin River At Kerckhoff Lake looking down river.

circa 1920

The bridge across the San Joaquin River At Kerckhoff Lake. A flood in the 1930's washed out the middle span of the bridge. A foot suspension bridge was used for walking traffic but the bridge remained closed for the winter. A particular problem was the delivery of students to Sierra High School from Madera County. All buses had to route through Friant.

circa 1935

The view of the washed out bridge on the San Joaquin from upriver. The powerhouse and the residences are visible in the background.

circa 1935

This picture of the washed out bridge is from the Sierra High yearbook. Here the washed out spans have not yet been replaced by a footbridge. The washout had a big impact on Sierra High School that year.

circa 1935

Wishon Powerhouse residents and visitors on the bridge across the San Joaquin River in the 1920's. Note the planking and rough railing on the bridge. The powerhouse is in the background left.

circa 1921

This picture is of the current bridge across the San Joaquin River in January of 1997. This bridge is about 1/4 mile upriver from the old bridge site. The new metal bridge is much higher than the old wooden bridge, giving you some idea of how high this water is. This storm put several days of abnormally warm rain on a very big snowpack, causing flood conditions that took out the bridge pictured and the bridge at Friant.

circa 1997

The flood of 1997 at the bridge across the San Joaquin at Kerckhoff. The water eventually went 4 feet over the roadbed of the bridge, washing out the approaches on both ends of the bridge.

circa 1997

The washed out approach on the Fresno County side of the bridge on the San Joaquin at Kerckhoff.

circa 1997

The washed out bridge approach on the Fresno County side of the bridge on the San Joaquin at Kerckhoff. T^he road was closed for about two months.

circa 1997

Kerckhoff Lake on the San Joaquin River. Across the lake are two powerhouses. The smaller one on the left is the original Wishon No.1 and the large one on the right is the newer modern Wishon No.1. The old building burned down in the 1980's. The company boat is in the foreground.

circa 1930

A view of Kerckhoff Lake and Wishon No.1 from Powerhouse Road. Someone's car, maybe the photographer's, in the foreground.

circa 1928

The old and new powerhouses at Kerckhoff with the residences in the background. The residences have been torn down and only the new powerhouse remains. The company boat is in the foreground.

circa 1926