Community Chat

[NoelSeven]

In Central and Southern Mexico. Wow, the Pacific Rim has been really active lately

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake at about 9:30 a.m. (10:30 a.m. EDT; 1430 GMT) was centered on a long-dormant fault line northwest of the Pacific resort of Acapulco, where many Mexicans are vacationing for the Easter holiday.

It was felt across at least a half-dozen states and Mexico's capital, where it collapsed several walls and left larges cracks in some facades. Debris covered sidewalks around the city.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/04/18/magnitude-72-earthquake-shakes-central-and-southern-mexico-...

[NoelSeven]

The quake in Mexico has been upgraded to a 7.5. That's a bad one.

Point of interst:

Today is the anniversary date of the great San Francisco earthquake, April 18, 1906. 3,000 people died and 80% of the city was destroyed.

Photo from this morning, 5:12 am, at an historical spot, marking the yearly commemoration of the SF 1906 quake:

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That's a huge quake

[Burnsite]

I hope no one was hurt in the recent quake. I love Acapulco. Beautiful place, beautiful people. Great food, too.

[azgal]

NoelSeven

My great aunt was a telephone operator in S.F. when the earthquake happened. She was only 19. When she turned 100 her local paper (Vacaville) wrote a story about her and had a picture of her at the switchboard. She talked about the earthquake and later working at Gumps. Did you ever hear of that department store in San Francisco? I think she retired from Gumps. By the time I was born She was already retired and living in Vacaville.

[NoelSeven]

On 4/18/2014 azgal said:

NoelSeven

My great aunt was a telephone operator in S.F. when the earthquake happened. She was only 19. When she turned 100 her local paper (Vacaville) wrote a story about her and had a picture of her at the switchboard. She talked about the earthquake and later working at Gumps. Did you ever hear of that department store in San Francisco? I think she retired from Gumps. By the time I was born She was already retired and living in Vacaville.

Hi azgal

I would love to have seen the photo and article about your aunt! What history she saw and was a part of.

Over the years, survivors of the SF '06 quake have been treated like the treasures they are and were. There are only two left now, but they were not able to make it to the ceremonies this morning. I knew one of the last, Herb, over 100 years old and still working. He died just a few years ago. I also had an aunt who was a survivor, just a child of 6 when the quake hit SF.

Yes, I certainly do know Gumps, one of SF's most well known and upscale stores, located in the downtown area. They are also known for their wonderful Christmas windows, and many people make a pilgrimage there each holiday season.

If you are interested, here is the link to the online site for Gumps:

http://www.gumps.com/?cm_mmc=Google%20Paid%20Search-_-Trademark-_-Gumps%20-%20EXACT-_-gumps%20in%20...

[hennypenny]

I know this is too much info, but the store was owned by my family. My grandfather was a teen at the time and he went with my uncles to cut the paintings out of their frames in the store. Another relative owned a company that had one of the only telegraph machines working and they sent word to the East coast.

[NoelSeven]

On 4/18/2014 hennypenny said:

I know this is too much info, but the store was owned by my family. My grandfather was a teen at the time and he went with my uncles to cut the paintings out of their frames in the store. Another relative owned a company that had one of the only telegraph machines working and they sent word to the East coast.

Hi henny!

What a wonderful story! We're full of history on this line My grandparents were here, also, they were young and hadn't been married long. I have a lot of photographs they took right after the quake. Golden Gate park was turned over to people who had lost their homes, it was full of people living in tents. I have a photo of my grandmother visiting a friend of hers there. They were seated on chairs outside the tent, and you can see other tents around them.

[azgal]

I didn't know it was still in business. You know I grew up in Oakland and my friend and I use to go to San Francisco to shop and hang out. You know the 60's and all. We went to the City of Paris and I remember the Christmas tree that went through the middle of the store. It had those circular floors. It was beautiful.

Henny, that's cool.

[hennypenny]

I think much of my family was evacuated to Marin county. I too have pics of family members sitting by tents. My grandfather was preparing to run in the olympics and had injured his leg. The doctors told him to stay on crutches to let the leg rest and heal. When the quake hit he threw the crutches away. They ""borrowed"" a truck and went down town to save pieces from the store.