Allen Creek with men on bridge, 1902

Temporary footbridge erected after the flood of July 7, 1902. A violent storm that afternoon transformed the lazy stream between 601 West Washington (left in photo) and 523 (right) into a raging torrent. It ripped through the street and joined other tributaries in swelling the waters and choking the culverts of Allen Creek. Flooding homes and businesses and almost drowning two children, the creek washed out tracks of the Ann Arbor railroad and the Michigan Central. Canoes from Argo Livery rescued stranded residents. The stream in the photo is now part of the underground Murray-Washington drain, whose waters still occasionally explode to the surface and flood neighborhood basements and streets.

Frame location: North side of Liberty, east of northeast corner of Ashley, in front of #120 West Liberty, near curb

Collection info: Ann Arbor Observer

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