Does anyone know of a time when a large earthquake struck the Charleston area--or Summerville? sometime before the turn of the 1900's? Again--just trying to verify stories that were handed down.... Maggee Smith

The main fault that precipitated the 1886 earthquake is centered near Summerville. Unlike the California faults, this one is much deeper according to current reports. The area continues to have minor quakes but they are so low in level, they aren't felt. There is a seismograph at one of the local universities. I know one was felt by some people in the mid-1990s, it registered about a 2.7 or 3.1 as I recall. I didn't feel it, although I was living there at the time. The 1886 quake was reportedly felt as far away as Boston and Atlanta. You can see evidence of it today as you walk the streets of the city - many of the older brick homes have tie rods going through them to hold the walls together. These are affixed on the end with 'earthquake bolts' on the outside of the building. Some of these bolts are anchored in round disks that are about 8" in diameter, others have ornamental covers with stars, lion heads, etc. You can also see evidence on some of the larger homes along East Bay Street. There is one in particular that used to have three columns on top of a first floor entrance. The columns fell off during the quake and have never been replaced. It makes for an interesting architectural facade since the roof over that entrance now sits there empty and flat, facing the street . ----- Original Message ----- From: <MOConqrr@aol.com> To: <SCCHARLE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 29, 2000 11:22 AM Subject: [SCCHARLE] Re:Earthquake in Charleston? > Does anyone know of a time when a large earthquake struck the Charleston > area--or Summerville? sometime before the turn of the 1900's? Again--just > trying to verify stories that were handed down.... > > Maggee Smith > > > ==== SCCHARLE Mailing List ==== > Lots of holdings on Charleston County Families > South Carolina Historical Society > http://www.schistory.org >