by Laurel | February 14th, 2014
11 February 1914
And Caused Many Inquiries as to the Cause
An earthquake shock was felt in Holyoke and the vicinity about 1:30 yesterday afternoon and during the afternoon reports came in from all sections in the city. The shock seemed to be a light one and was unnoticed by many especially in the business section. In the residential section it was more noticeable, the feeling being likened to a slight rolling motion. The first to call in to the city to inquire about it was Thomas G. Mears, a resident of Fairview who was seated on his piazza when the shock came and he said the house was severely shaken and a crumbling noise was heard. He telephoned to the Holyoke police station asking if there had been an explosion and finding there had been none was satisfied that there had been an earthquake. Chairman J. J. Kelly of the board od assessors noticed the shock at his home on Clinton Avenue, but thought that it was due to the wind. Other in Ward 7 noticed the shock plainly and the newspaper offices received a number of calls inquiring whether an earthquake had taken place or if the powder mills at Hazardville had blown up. The shock was also noticed across the river in South Hadley Falls to some extent. There was no damage done anywhere, as far as could be learned, the shock being a very slight one in this district.
Adapted from The Springfield Republican.
Note: Dr. Otto Klotz, of Canada, wrote a paper on the earthquake (Earthquake of February 10, 1914 By Otto Klotz. Publications of the Dominion Observatory, Ottawa, 3, No. 1.). The epicenter was located about 75 miles northeast of Ottawa. Clicking on the following image gives a brief description of the event.
Earthquake of 10 February 1914
