Tag Archives: Historic US earthquakes

Strange Columbus- Earthquake of May, 1897

Posted on by
Reply

Earthquake of May, 1897

The earthquake of May, 1897 struck on the 31st at around 1PM. It had an epicenter near Pearisburg, Virginia, right on the West Virgina state line. The earthquake was estimated to have had a magnitude of 5.8-6.0, with a Modified Mercalli Scale (MMI) maximum rating of VIII. All of Ohio felt this earthquake, though southern and eastern sections felt it most strongly. Shaking strength was estimated to be in the MMI range of III-V across much of the state.

A MMI of V occurred at Cincinnati during the earthquake of May, 1897. A V is described as the following:
Felt by all, frightens some. Pictures and lighting sway, a few objects fall from shelves or are overturned. A few instances of cracked plaster or windows.
The Times-Star in Cincinnati made the following report the following day:
Felt “here and in the suburbs…. The printers ran out of the Times-Star office. The occupants of other buildings were alarmed, and at Coney Island, Chester Park, the Zoo gardens, and elsewhere there was consternation among the holiday crowds. At the Lagoon, on the Kentucky side, there was a panic among several thousand people on the grounds. The waters in the Lagoon were so rough that the life-saving crew went to the relief of those out on the electric pleasure boats.”

Zanesville experienced an MMI of V. It was reported that the Courier Building, “experienced decided vibrations” to such an extent that “the employees on the fourth and third floors deserted their posts, greatly frightened.”

In other places, where the exact MMI is not known or estimated, there were reports of light damage and general panic.

In Pomeroy, it was reported to The Columbus Dispatch that, “This city was considerably shaken up by an earthquake at 1:30 yesterday. Buildings were badly shaken, dishes knocked from shelves and several persons on the streets were stunned, almost to insensibility.”

In Nelsonville, the Dispatch reported, “An earthquake shock was plainly discernible here at 1 o’clock yesterday. In one house, a lamp was shaken from the table. Many persons were frightenend.”

At Batavia, it was reported that, “Quite a perceptible earthquake shock was felt here yesterday, about 1 o’clock and lasing for a full minute’s duration. Windows rattled, and in a number of cases, dishes were thrown down and broken.”

In Jackson, the report was that, “At the county infirmary, situated about two miles east of this city, the earthquake shock on Monday was very violent. The terrified inmates ran screaming from the buildings. Upon examination it was found that the shock had cracked the walls in many places. Window panes were also broken.”

In Columbus, the earthquake likely registered at a III at most. Many people did not feel it at all. The Dispatch reported that a “Mr. King, in his room in the Neil House, detected the earthquake the instant of its occurrence, took note of the time, reported the facts at the office, and was laughed at good naturedly by the clerks, but when The Evening Dispatch brought his vindication they cheerfully admitted that Mr. King knew an earthquake when he felt it.”

Near the epicenter in Western Virginia, the quake damaged many buildings, felled many chimneys, and even a train was derailed due to area landslides.

The epicenter in Giles County, Virginia.

Strange Columbus 1925 Earthquake

Posted on by
Reply




Strange Columbus 1925 earthquake

At 9:23PM on Saturday night, the 28th of February, 1925, Columbus- along with the rest of Ohio and most of the Eastern US- experienced an earthquake.. The epicenter wasn’t particularly close, as it was located in the Charlevoix-Kamouraska area along the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec. However, due to the geology of eastern North America, the 6.2 magnitude earthquake’s energy spread out for significant distances.

Around the epicenter, there was moderate damage to buildings, including collapsed chimneys and walls. Further out, the earthquake caused chaos and problems in many eastern US cities. In Detroit, hotel and theater guests ran into the streets, many mistaking the earthquake for a nearby explosion. In New York City, the earthquake’s tremors lasted between 2-3 minutes and were said to be the strongest the city had ever felt up to that time. In Washington DC, the 25-second movement became strong enough to knock the seismograph needle off its track. In Louisville, a telegraph operator’s equipment was shaken loose from its table.

In Columbus, meanwhile, residents were startled to feel their homes and apartment buildings begin moving. Pictures rattled on walls, light fixtures swayed and loose objects tumbled from shelves.

At the State School for the Blind Downtown, the superintendent reported that walls and windows shook for at least 2 minutes. Residents were alarmed by the movement and rushed about in panic in all directions, thinking the building might collapse on top of them.

At the Dennison Hotel, patrons reported that at least 3 separate shocks hit the building. The first lasted between 30-45 seconds, with two additional movements of shorter duration. A woman there reported a “peculiar sound” during the quake, equating it to the sound of “heavy fire trucks” moving past.

Elsewhere in Ohio, a train in Zanesville noticeably trembled while in motion, and passengers had to transfer to other lines as there were unconfirmed reports that tracks had been damaged near Trinway. In Lancaster, pool balls in billiard rooms rolled about on tables and rocking chairs moved about. In Cleveland, the offices of the Cleveland Plain Dealer shook for a least a minute, while in Canton, the 3 distinct shocks swayed buildings several inches.

Despite the movement and relative long duration of the shaking, damage in Columbus- and Ohio in general- was limited to a few broken items that had fallen from cabinets and shelves.