70th anniversary of 1949 earthquake

Seattle Municipal Archives from Seattle, WA
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By Diane Hettrick

April 13, 2019 is the 70th anniversary of the (according to History Link) "largest earthquake in Puget Sound since non-Indian people started to immigrate and settle along its shores."

The History Link article (Earthquake hits Puget Sound area...) says that "In King County, the quake's strongest ground shaking was in Auburn, Richmond Beach, and in parts of Seattle."

I don't remember ever hearing a name for it other than "the 1949 earthquake." The Burke Museum at the UW (The Big One) calls it the "Olympia earthquake".

1949 - April 13 - Centered on Olympia. Deep (30-40 miles). Magnitude 7.1 with a modified Mercalli of VIII. Substantial damage to masonry buildings with inferior mortar. Differential ground movement. 

Most damage in Seattle was concentrated in areas of filled ground around Pioneer Square area, where many older masonry buildings suffered. Washington schools sustained a disproportionately high level of damage. 

Thirty schools, normally serving 10,000 students, were damaged. Ten condemned and permanently closed.

Who was living in Richmond Beach at the time? Would you like to share your memories? Send them to Editor@ShorelineAreaNews.com