Re: Recollecting the March 22, 1957 5.3 Earthquake

03/12/07 - posted by Karyn Ann Bosso

Ah, yes, I remember it well. Or at least as well as any 3-1/2 year old kid can remember anything. I was here, in the house on 46th Avenue, playing contendedly with a friend. Suddenly everything began shaking, some china fell down in the kitchen, and a couple of salt and pepper shakers fell off the table. My little friend Renee Prideaux, who had just turned 5 was over at my house playing - and we both dived into the big reclining chair where my dear old handicapped Nana was sat and she put her arms around us, and began saying Hail Marys. The shaing continued for quite some time, and my mother came and stood over us all with her arms around us all - shaking in that chair. After the initial shaking had stopped, we saw Renee's mom outside - she'd had a drink or two I think -and she was singing. She told us that she was going to stay outside, that she felt safer out of doors. I also remember, a little later, Nana turned on the radio for news - I think perhaps the station might have been KOBY - and the must have played this one song 3 or 4 times - "Shante, Shante, everybody sing along" or something to that effect. Then, someone called on the request line - and the DJ played the request - Jerry Lee Lewis singing "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" I remember there were some cracks in the front of our house, and a few cracks in the sidewalks too.