PCAD - Fiske, John D., Building, Downtown, Fresno, CA

Structure Type: built works - commercial buildings - office buildings; built works - commercial buildings - stores

Exterior view of the Fiske Building, Fresno, c. 1891; from Calisphere, photo from the Fresno County Library and the San Joaquin Valley Library System

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Mariposa Street and Fulton Street
Downtown, Fresno, CA 93721

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It was originally located at Mariposa and J Streets, the latter renamed Fulton Street.

Overview

Investor John D. Fiske (d. 1891) erected this $100,000 office/retail building in 1890-1891. Fiske did not live long to reap the rewards of his investment, as he was murdered in 1891 by someone who claimed he was defrauded by him. When completed, the building stood as the tallest in Fresno, its clock tower rising above all other structures downtown. S.N. Griffith, an attorney, acquired the office block after Fiske's demise, and tore it down c. 1914 to build another office building, the Griffith-McKenzie Block.

Building Notes

In 1898, S.N. Griffith had his legal offices in Room #25 of the Fiske Block. In the same year, Emil Guenther owner of the California Tribune newspaper, had his office in Room #29 of the Fiske Building. (See Fresno, California, City Directory, 1898, p. 102.)

The barber, L. Haas, leased space for his barbershop in the Fiske Building. (See Fresno, California, City Directory, 1898, p. 103.)

PCAD id: 21245

Fiske, John D., Building, Downtown, Fresno, CA (1889-1890) demolished