This day in Mohawk Valley history: November 21, 1929

VICINITY IS DISTURBED AGAIN BY EARTHQUAKE MONDAY AFTERNOON

For Second Time This Year Tremors Are Felt In This Section Of The Country–No Serious Damage Done By Disturbance–Believed To Have Started In Ocean Bed–Justices Nichols And McNamee Felt Light Shocks While In Albany Court Building.

The earthquake which sent a tidal wave four feet high pounding against the classic rock bound coasts of New England, shook Maine dishes from their antique cupboards and caused collegiate seismograph needles to jump perturbedly from their records, was felt in the eastern part of New York State between 3:35 and 3:42 Monday afternoon.

Workers in offices at Oneonta felt three distinct shocks, they said. Chandeliers swung slowly in a slight pendulum movement, while the building seemed to sway as though under the influence of a heavy wind.

No reports of any damage in the immediate vicinity have been received. Walton, Norwich, Delhi and Sidney also reported feeling the tremors but without mentionable damage.

Monday’s shock was not as severe as that felt in this vicinity late in July of this year. Johnstown is given as the farthest point west at which the quake was felt. Binghamton reported that the shock was not felt there.

The center of the disturbance is believed to be in the Bay of St. Lawrence off Nova Scotia. The cause was given by some experts as due to a falling of the crust of the Fundian Fault, a sub-ocean ridge off the coast of Nova Scotia. Falling of portions of the ridge has caused quakes before, they said, but none so severe.

In Albany the tremblors were the most pronounced in the vicinity of Central avenue, Northern boulevard and Lark street. Scores of persons living or employed in this area reported feeling one, two or even three shocks.

Schenectady and Troy also were mildly shaken by the disturbance, which probably was caused by the ocean bed, according to scientists.

Empoyes in the Albany County building, the State Education building and the New York Telephone building felt the tremblors, particularly those on the upper floors.

Judges Daniel V. McNamee and Charles E. Nichols, sitting in the Albany County building, reported they felt the building sway.

It was pointed out Albany is particularly susceptible to earthquake shots, because the compact clay foundation beneath the city acts as a sounding board. The disturbance sets up waves which travel through the earth not unlike waves on the surface of a body of water.

Source: NYS Historic Newspapers