The old Uptown area near Routh and Boll street was the beginning of the Dallas branch creek. This creek is all underground now although it has it moments when it wants to return. The Dallas Branch creek runs from Boll Street to Flora Street in the Arts District. From there it turns to the lowest part of Mc Kinney Ave. and then on to the Victory Park area. This creek emptied into the Trinity River until it was covered.Now it is part of the many miles of underground pipes that drain to the Trinity River.
During a great storm on the 5th of May 1995 , known as the Cinco De Mayo storm to many, 10 inches of rain fell in the Downtown and Uptown neighborhoods. This storm allowed the Dallas Branch to return for one night. The Dallas Branch runs through the Dallas Museum of Art and on this night they were very busy with Cinco De Mayo celebrations. I know because I was there listening to a guest speaker.
All during the presentation we could here the thunder booming outdoors and indoors too. Upon leaving the presentation it became apparent that a Mother Nature was very busy. The upper floors of the Museum were flooding because of the water collecting on the roof so quickly. As we exited the building Harwood Street was flowing like a creek. The Dallas Branch had returned. We were unable to traverse any of the streets out of downtown and had to stay in the Reunion Hyatt. They were nice enough to give us the drowned rat special.
Many of our old creeks in Dallas are underground and at times they return . They are covered , but, not forgotten . During this same storm a parking lot at Baylor Hospital returned to roaring creek form. Picking cars up and stacking them against buildings that were in the way. This of course is another old creek that runs through Old East Dallas.
Todays forecast : Late Afternoon storms
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