1926

Jan 12

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 239.

2:15 a.m. IV. Ojai, Ventura Co. Abrupt bumping; duration two seconds; awakened many. At Santa Barbara, the press reported a shock lasting three seconds at 2:30 a.m. Probably only one shock. - SRC&GS.

The Daily Oxnard Courier, Vol. XIX, no. 160 (Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1926)

Earth Tremors Felt Here at Early Hour. Light sleepers were awakened this morning at 2:20 by two severe earth shocks which lasted several seconds. Several said that their beds were shaken and that light fixtures swayed. Doors and windows rattled and in some places dishes clattered.

It was reported that the quake was also felt in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Daily News (Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1926)

SETTLING SHOCK JARS SLUMBERING CITIZENS. A slight readjusting shock was felt throughout the city this morning at 2:29 oÕclock. No damage has been reported as a result of the small disturbance caused while the earth is slowly settling from the tremor of last June.

The Ventura County Star, Vol. 1, No. 176 (Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1926)

DID YOU NOTICE QUAKE AT 2:30? Light Sleepers Say There Was One in Early Hours -- An earthquake shock of noticeable severity was felt by many Venturans shortly after 2:30 oÕclock this morning. the shock came as two distinct tremors, about three seconds apart. The shock was felt with equal severity in Santa Barbara, but no damage was reported. In Santa Barbara, as in Ventura, many sleepers were not awakened by the quake only light sleepers and those who had not retired noting the seismologic disturbance.

1926

Jan 16

Santa Barbara Daily News, Sect. 2, p. 1 (Saturday, Jan. 16, 1926)

LIGHT QUAKE SHOCK FELT AT NOON TODAY. A light settling shock was felt at 12:08 pm today. No damage was reported.

1926

Jan 28

Daily News, Sect. 2, p. 1 (Thursday, Jan. 28, 1926)

TWO EARTH SHOCKS ARE FELT IN THE CITY. Two earth shocks were felt throughout the city during the last 24 hours, according to reports today. The first was a slight jar last night at 11 oÕclock; the second this morning about 7:30. The latter was accompanied by a slight rumbling sound, and was more of an oscillating nature. No damage has been reported from any section; and the shakes were not felt outside the city.

The Ventura County Star, Vol. 1, No. 191 (Thursday, Jan. 28, 1926)

EARTHQUAKE SHOCK IN SANTA BARBARA. An earthquake shock of four or five seconds duration was reported from Santa Barbara this morning by a Venturan who chanced to be in the mission city.

The quake came at 7:30 oÕclock and was preceded by a low roaring sound. No damage was reported.

1926

Feb 18

1018 hrs

USDC, 41-1, p. 167, 1970 ed.

"SW of Ventura", 34N, 119 1/2 W, int. VI. Windows broke in one Santa Barbara school; pipe broke in roundhouse. Felt along the coast from San Luis Obispo to south of Santa Ana - a distance about 200 miles.

BSSA, Vol. 16, n. 1, p. 64.

Southern California was shaken by an earthquake of moderate intensity on the morning of Feb. 18th. The shock was felt in Los Angeles and Ventura at 10:17 am. The shock, which was of the rolling variety, and which lasted about five seconds, apparently centered in the Simi Valley, twelve miles inland from Ventura. At Santa Barbara, clocks were stopped and two windows were broken in the high school. Damage was confined to superficial cracks.

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 239.

10:18 a.m. VI+. Origin at sea, southwest of Ventura. Windows broken in Santa Barbara school, water pipe broken in roundhouse. Damage to telephone equipment at Simi, Ventura Co. Felt along the coast from San Luis Obispo on the northwest to south of Santa Ana, a distance of 200 miles. Recorded on a number of seismographs in the east part of the United States.

Reported as severe at Santa Susana, Ventura Co.; of one-half minute duration at Ventura; slight, but distinct at Santa Monica; a slight roll at Los Angeles; and generally as of a swaying, rolling nature where felt. Seismograms at Pasadena indicated a submarine origin (several references. Ed.).

Daily News, Sect. 1, p. 1 (Thursday, Feb. 18, 1926)

EARTH TREMOR SHAKES COAST LOS ANGELES TO SAN LUIS. Long Rolling Quake Starts Near Southern Metropolis Diminishing As It Went North; No Damage.

Los Angeles, Feb. 18 - (AP) - An earthquake of nearly a minuteÕs duration about 10:18 oÕclock this morning was felt along the coastline between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, the only damage reported being the throwing out of Southern California Edison Company switches at Saticoy, ten miles from Ventura.

The rather long rolling quake which started somewhere near Los Angeles at 10:17 oÕclock this morning and reaching Santa Barbara a minute later did nothing but plaster and partition wall damage in Santa Barbara. The total cost of repair will be considerable due to the necessity for refinishing whole walls in which a single crack has occurred.

The intensity of the quake was considerably less than the so-called "Friday shock" of a few days after the big quake which still remains the most severe disturbance since June 29. However, the duration of todayÕs shake was longer than that of "Friday shock". This statement is based upon the observation of a number of persons who checked the quake with their watches and upon the showings of the Gas Co. pressure gauge at distributing headquarters which is the most sensitive instrument in the city. This gauge showed variations of the needle marked a longer trail on the automatic registering dial showing that the shake was a rather long "roller".

Telegraph and telephone reports from all parts of Southern California show that the quake was general in the district of Los Angeles and Pasadena and extended north to San Luis Obispo. The intensity south of Santa Barbara was apparently as great as in this city.

In Santa Maria the disturbance was much less than in Santa Barbara.

No damage at new buildings built according to specifications adopted following the June quake was reported. The fact that a number of "green" walls on new buildings stood without damage is said by the contractors to demonstrate the value of better construction but showed no bad effects of todayÕs disturbance beyond shedding some more plaster.

Business on State Street was affected for a short time according to the temperament of the merchants and their clerks. In some places a half hour was spent in quake gossip before normalcy returned.

Eldon Ford, assistant superintendent of schools reported at 2 oÕclock this afternoon that all schools were in session as usual this afternoon and that attendance was practically normal. Mr. Ford said that all rumors that school children had been lost in the excitement caused by the shake had been investigated and found false.

"No pupil or teacher was injured in any school," said Mr. Ford. "I have visited every school and interviewed every teacher to assure me of that fact."

The Ventura County Star, Vol. 1, No. 207 (Thursday, Feb. 18, 1926)

SEVERE TREMOR DOES NO HARM: QUAKE FELT AT 10:20 EXTENDS FAR IN TWO DIRECTIONS -- One of the most severe earthquake shocks of many months was felt in Ventura at 10:19 am. The shock was of only about two seconds duration, but rocked the houses and rattled the windows.

Immediate communication from Southern Stations of the vicinity developed that the shock was felt as far north as Santa Barbara and as far south as Santa Susana at least.

Following the quake, the Star was flooded with telephone calls from the outlying districts, bringing news of the quake, and queries as to possible damage.

"ThereÕs a big one" was the word from Los Angeles received by operator R. E. Glaze, of the Western Union, when the earthquake shock registered here this morning, indicating the seismologic disturbance extended as far south as Los Angeles.

No damage was done in the city, according to a report received later.

In Santa Barbara, Special to the Star, Feb. 18 -- A severe earthquake shock of five seconds duration was felt in Santa Barbara this morning at 10:20.

While many left their buildings, and a few plaster cracks resulted, no serious damage was reported. The tremor was traveling in a north and south direction.

The quake was not so severe as many that were felt immediately following the big quake in June, but was one of the worst in several months.

Small superficial cracks in the hollow tile and plaster walls of the Central Building and the Carrillo Hotel were opened by the tremor, but no structural damage was done to the frame.

One workman, employed on rebuilding the County National Bank jumped several feet from a scaffold to the ground, fracturing his right ankle.

While the people were alarmed during the quake, they were laughing over it a few minutes later, each striving to "outlie" his fellows over his personal experience.

The Daily Oxnard Courier, Vol. XIX, no. 191 (Thursday, Feb. 18, 1926).

Earthquake Felt Here Shakes Santa Barbara; Reported in Ventura. A distinct earthquake shock was felt here at 10:17 this morning.

Residents in all parts of the city felt the temblor and some went out of doors fearing another tremor. The quake was of several seconds duration and was very pronounced in the city hall and Oxnard library. Ed Bill, who was in the library at the time said it was quite a severe jolt. Downstairs, in the city hall electric lights on cords swayed for over a minute.

In the office of the Postal Telegraph company the clock stopped. In the Pacific-Southwest Trust & Savings Bank building and also in the Bank of A. Levy Inc., the shock was very marked and startled some. While doors and windows in homes rattled, no damage was reported here.

-- felt in LA, Long Beach

Santa Maria Daily Times, Weekly Vol. XLIII, no. 42 (Thursday, Feb. 18, 1926)

SLIGHT EARTH TREMOR FELT HERE. A slight earth tremor was felt by residents of this city and community at 10:07 this morning, but no damage has been reported. Santa Barbara, Ventura and other cities south of here report a shake of more severe nature but no damage. Reports from Santa Barbara declare that a few of the buildings partly destroyed in the earthquake on June 29 may have been slightly damaged.

Reports earthquake felt in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Santa Monica, Long Beach, Santa Susana.

Lompoc Record, 51st year, no. 47 (Friday, Feb. 19, 1926)

WICKED SHIVVER [sic] YESTERDAY MORNING. Lompoc was visited with an earthquake yesterday (Thursday) morning about 10:30 which was considered by many who felt it as the hardest since the big quake of last June, yet it was so slight that many did not notice it at all. At the White Hills it was considerably harder and caused quite a commotion for a short time as many employees of the Celite Company felt that the great out doors was the safest place for them and made a break for the open.

Santa Barbara Daily News (Saturday, Feb. 20, 1926)

OAKLAND RADIO STATION MAKES QUAKE REPORT. KGO, Oakland is busy today sending broadcast over the country correcting a report broadcast yesterday in which Santa Barbara was described as shaken down by an earthquake Thursday.

Local people, tuning in on KGO, were surprised when they caught the import of the news, and this morning the matter was taken up in the following dispatch sent to the Oakland broadcast station:

"Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce takes exception to the erroneous report broadcast Friday night. This and other portions of southern California felt a tremor Thursday morning. Contrary to reports circulated, there were no injuries, no property damage, no interruption of business. Chamber appreciates KGOÕs fairness in correcting these false reports."

1926

Apr 29

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 240.

4:18 a.m. IV Buellton, Santa Barbara Co. Like the blow of a hammer; sounds preceding shock awakened observer. - SRC&GS.

1926

May 3

BSSA, Vol. 16, n. 2, p. 161.

A severe shock of between ten and fifteen secondsÕ duration was felt at Ventura at 5:45 am on May 3rd. The earthquake stopped an electric clock and was of sufficient severity to cause people to leave their beds. No damage was reported.

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 240.

5:53 a.m. At sea, southwest of Point Hueneme, Ventura Co. Recorded seismographically by a number of stations. Felt as far as San Luis Obispo, more than one hundred miles northwest, where the intensity was II to III; gradual swaying, southeast to northwest, felt by several. Press dispatches reported the shock severe at Ventura, where people were awakened and frightened, and the shock lasted from ten to fifteen seconds. The shock was also felt at Santa Barbara, where it was light. - SRC&GS.

1926

May 14

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 240

About 10 a.m. IV+? Ojai, Ventura Co. Felt by many standing as an abrupt bumping; northwest to southeast. Slight at Santa Barbara; duration two seconds. - SRC&GS. Felt also at Ventura at 10:17 a.m. - L.A. Times, May 15, 1926.

1926

Jun 18

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 240.

Santa Barbara - Three shocks.

The Morning Press ( June 24, 1926).

FRUITLESS TOUR IS MADE FROM ST. LOUIS TO FIND EARTHQUAKE. Disappointment over inability to "find an earthquake in Santa Barbara" was expressed yesterday afternoon.

"Hey, where is there an earthquake?" the motorist asked several pedestrians as they stopped their car beside the curb near the Post Office. "We have looked all over this town and canÕt find an earthquake," they lamented. "We drove out here from St. Louis for just such a sight."

1927

Jun 27

1730 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 240.

5:30 p.m. IV. Ventura - Two shocks; abrupt; bumping; felt by many.

The Morning Press (Tuesday, June 29, 1926).

WHAT OF IT? "Santa BarbaraÕs recovery from the earthquake of one year ago is little short of astounding", said Charles D. Willson, former manager of Hotel El Mirasol, who with Mrs. Willson was a guest in the Carrillo yesterday from St. Petersburg, Fla. "There is hardly a scar of the disaster remaining to remind us that a year ago the city lay in ruins that could hardly be exaggerated. It speaks mighty well for the cityÕs pluck and spirit.

"I am especially glad to see that a distinct and uniform type or architecture has been adopted. It puts Santa Barbara in the same class with the worldÕs unique cities."

Historical Writings, Edwin M. Sheridan, vol. 5, p. 113.

Santa Barbara, 11 lives lost; $10,000,000 damage.

The Ventura County Star, Vol. 2, No. 13 ( June 29, 1926).

ONE YEAR AFTER THE QUAKE. Under clear California skies, Santa Barbara smiled forth; proud and beautiful with her distinctive rows of buildings in typical Spanish architecture triumphantly replacing the ashes and dust which were hers a year ago today following the earthquake which wrecked her to the foundations and gave Ventura a rocking.

From the loss sustained then, which amounted to approximately 20 millions of dollars, the spirit of Santa Barbara has carried out a program of rebuilding, of rebeautifying, which forever will set it apart from the ordinary commercial city of the west.

Capitalizing on the charm of the tiled roof lines of Spain, adapting these lines to the needs of California, the city today, and especially Estrada street presents a panorama or quaint picturesque outlines that is unforgettable, and distinctive.

Those who saw Santa Barbara a year ago and wept with her inhabitants over the results of the disaster and who watched her men and women unanimously decide to build a better Santa Barbara view the results today with admiration.

From the ashes of an almost hopeless ruin, the city rises today a miraculously fine, well planned city, better, perhaps for the terrible disaster.

From Ventura for days went food supplies for the suffering sister city. From Ventura went out all the first news of the disaster.

And to Ventura who escaped with minor bruises, has come a share of the rebuilding and beautifying until today San Buenaventura reflects, too, her share of the atmosphere of Spanish California.

1926

Jun 29

1521 hrs

USDC

Santa Barbara, 34 1/2N, 119 1/2W, int. VII (MM), area felt 30,000 sq. mi.

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 240

3:21 p.m. VII to VIII. Santa Barbara. Shock from a possible submarine origin on the same date as the destructive shock of 1925. A falling chimney killed a child, a street car was derailed, telephone wires tangled, plate glass broken, old cracks in walls enlarged; reports stated that the surf was agitated violently. At Ventura the intensity estimate was V, but the description is of a somewhat stronger shock, not less than VI; the populace ran outdoors. At Buellton, Santa Barbara Co., it was felt by all; plaster was cracked.

The shock was felt as far southeast as the Los Angeles beaches; intensity about III. At Ojai, Ventura Co., many felt it as an abrupt swaying, west to east, intensity about IV+. It was of about the same intensity at Santa Paula, and was reported at Oxnard, Hueneme, and Camarillo, Ventura Co.

The shock seems to have been felt to distance of about one hundred miles from its submarine origin; the shaken area therefore was some 30,000 square miles. It was recorded by seismographs to distances of several thousand miles. SRC&GC, press dispatches.

The Daily Oxnard Courier, Vol. XIX, no. 299 (Tuesday, June 29, 1926)

SANTA BARBARA QUAKE 1 YEAR AGO TODAY. A distinct earthquake shock was felt here at 3:20 this afternoon, lasting for several seconds. According to telegraph dispatchers from Santa Barbara the tremor was more severe there.

Santa Maria Daily Times, Weekly Vol. XLIV, no. 12 (Wednesday, June 30, 1926)

FELT HERE. A slight tremor was felt here yesterday afternoon shortly after 3 oÕclock. No damage is reported.

Daily Oxnard Courier, Vol. XIX, no. 300 (Wednesday, June 30, 1926)

EARTH TEMBLOR SHAKES PLASTER AT COM. CENTER. Large Portion of Basement Ceiling Drops as Structure Rocks Violently.

THREE SHOCKS IN ALL. Two More Last Evening; Quake More Severe in Camarillo; Heaviest in Year

REMOVES PLASTER. The same temblor that rocked Santa Barbara on the anniversary of the big earthquake was felt here as was another temblor later in the day. It was said to have been the most severe felt here since the big Santa Barbara tremor.

A quantity of plaster was knocked from the ceiling of the Community Center building, according to F.J. Hokin who was in the building at the time. The Community Center building shook violently for a second or two, Hoken said.

Several buildings in town were severely shaken and doors and windows rattled.

In Camarillo the shock was felt distinctly, according to residents of that section. One pump stopped, according to Camarillo people. The later shocks were as severe as the quake a year ago when Santa Barbara was wrecked.

All along the coast from here to Santa Barbara the quakes yesterday were felt. Carpinteria was shaken but no damage was done. Several plate glass windows in Santa Barbara fell out of into the sidewalks.

The Ventura County Star ( June 30, 1926)

Child Dies as Result of Santa Barbara Quake on Anniversary. Child Killed. A three-year old child was the sole victim of minor earthquake shocks felt yesterday afternoon in Ventura and other southern California coast cities.

Colin Orr, of 401 1/2 Bath Street, Santa Barbara, was playing in the yard when the shock occurred. A chimney, believed to have been weakened just a year earlier, fell from the Orr home, mortally wounding the child.

The chimney of the Orr home was the only one to fall in Santa Barbara it was reported today.

Santa Barbara was the northernmost city to report the temblor. Other cities reporting the earth disturbance were Santa Monica, Venice, Hermosa, Manhattan, Redondo beaches, San Pedro and Long Beach.

Here two distinct shocks were felt, lasting no longer than five seconds each. The first, at 3:20, was the most severe.

A crowd at Wrigley Field, home of the LA baseball team, saw the tall flagpole wave back and forth for a second or so. Office workers were surprised when pictures commenced swinging in small arcs. Swivel chairs led about for the period of the shock.

All of the new buildings erected under Santa BarbaraÕs $20,000,000 reconstruction program withstood yesterday afternoonÕs shock. Cracks in some of the older structures, damaged a year ago, were reopened by the temblor. Plate glass windows in a furniture store were broken. Ruins of the old Santa Barbara court house and sheriffÕs office were unaffected.

The greatest force shown by the earthquake centered at El Segundo, Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beaches.

Imperial Valley cities and San Bernardino County communities reported that they had not felt it.

The Ojai, Vol. XXXV, no. 35 (Friday, July 2, 1926).

SANTA BARBARA QUAKE FELT BY OJAI RESIDENTS. The earthquake that resulted in the death of a small boy and some slight property damage at Santa Barbara on June 29, the anniversary of the big quake last year, was also felt in Ojai, several residents reporting that they felt a slight shock. Pictures were shaken askew and dishes rattled, but no damage was done.

1926

Jul 3

BSSA, Vol. 16, n. 3, p. 200.

Santa Barbara, California - Mrs. Emily A. Ardinghe reports that four slight earthquakes were felt in Santa Barbara, at about 3:00 pm on July 3rd. The temblors occurred within twenty minutes.

1926

Jul 6

0945 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 241.

9:45 a.m. V. Santa Barbara. Buildings and tank swayed; ground swayed northeast; people ran outdoors; three shocks; felt by many. - SRC&GS.

1926

Aug 6

0945 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 241.

9:42 a.m. IV. Santa Barbara region. Sharp at Santa Barbara. Felt by many as an abrupt bumping from west in two shocks with a two second interval at Ojai, Ventura Co. Sharp, lasting nearly one-half minute, at Ventura. Recorded instrumentally at Berkeley and Tucson. SRC&GS.

The Daily Oxnard Courier, Vol. XX, no. 31 (Friday, Aug. 6, 1926)

Quakes and Showers Vary Local Weather. At 9:45 Oxnard and the surrounding section was shaken slightly by an earthquake. Many people report they felt the quake distinctly, but not harder perhaps than a passing truck. The quake was felt at Ventura and Santa Paula. At Santa Barbara it was harder than in Ventura County, and lasted five or six seconds there. No damage of any kind was reported.

1926

Aug 8

2005 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 241,

8:12 p.m. V+? Santa Barbara. Reported time 8:05 p.m.; strong enough to shake dishes from shelves and to swing chandeliers. Two shocks, one sharp, at Ventura; time 8:05. The time 8:12 p.m. is taken from the seismogram at Mount Hamilton. (Several references. Ed.).

1926

Sep 28

0958 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 241.

949 a.m. BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 231.? Ventura. "Fairly stiff." Seismograms located the origin at sea southwest of Ventura. It was felt at Santa Barbara; and a shock reported from Ojai, Ventura Co., as an east to west rocking, felt by many at 10:45 a.m., is almost certainly this shock with an error of one hour in timing. The shock recorded instrumentally as far as Ottawa and Toronto. - SRC&GS.

The Star, Vol. 2, no. 47 (Tuesday, Sept. 28, 1926)

Did You Feel The Tremor? "A sharp but very brief earthquake shock brought people running out of buildings both in Ventura and Santa Barbara at 9:50 am today. No damage of any sort was reported in either county.

The Daily Oxnard Courier (Thursday, Sep. 30, 1926)

Mentions "The quake felt in Oxnard last Tuesday" (was severe in SB).

1926

Oct 22

0435, 0535 hrs

USDC

Monterey Bay, 36 3/4N, 122W, int. VIII, felt area 100,000 sq. mi., includes Santa Barbara County (Lompoc).

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 242.

4:35 a.m. VIII Monterey Bay region. Submarine origin, west of Monterey. Felt to Healdsburg on north, Sierra on east, and Lompoc, Santa Barbara Co., on south, indicating a shaken area approaching 100,000 square miles.

5:35 a.m. VIII Monterey Bay. Similar in almost every way to the shock one hour earlier. Distant seismograms of the two shocks were almost identical. The shaken area of the second shock as reported is slightly less; it was of slightly higher intensity at San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and a few places toward the north. (Several references. Ed.)

The Ventura County Star, Vol. 2, No. 111 (Friday, Oct. 22, 1926)

QUAKE ROCKS BAY DISTRICT THREE TREMBLORS IN AREA SOUTH TO SAN LUIS OBISPO

San Francisco Oct. 22 - San Francisco and other cities within 150 miles to the south were rocked by three distinct earthquakes this morning ... Santa Barbara, which sustained damage in a quake a year ago, escaped this mornings disturbance entirely.

Santa Barbara Daily News (Friday, Oct. 22, 1926)

TREMBLORS ROCK S.F. AND CENTER PART OF STATE.

San Luis Obispo - two light earthquake shocks were felt here this morning, one at 4:35 and the other at 5:36. No damage was reported.

1926

Dec 19

0105, 0245 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 16, n. 4, p. 277.

A dispatch from Ventura states that two earthquakes were felt there on Dec. 19th. The first occurred at 1:05 am and the second at 2:45 am. No damage was reported.

1927

Apr 4

BSSA, Vol. 17, n. 2, p. 114.

Ventura, California - The press reports three slight earthquakes which shook Ventura just before midnight on April 4th. The first was the most pronounced.

1927

May 16

0320

BSSA, Vol. 17, no. 2, p. 115; Vol. 29, n. 1, p. 248.

Ventura, California, May 15, 1927 - An Associated Press Dispatch states that a short but distinct earthquake was felt in Ventura at 3:20 a.m. on May 15th. Several plate glass windows in the business district were cracked, but no other damage was reported. No shock reports from surrounding districts were received. Located by seismographs at Pasadena and Riverside as of submarine origin off Point Hueneme, Ventura Co.

The Morning Press, Vol. LXIX, No. 235 (Monday, May 16, 1927)

EARTHQUAKE BREAKS WINDOWS IN VENTURA. Ventura, May 16 - An earthquake, sharp but of short duration, at 3:20 oÕclock this morning cracked several plate windows in the business district here, but did no other damage. No shock reports from surrounding districts were received, indicating the disturbance was local.

The Ventura County Star, Vol. 2, No. 277 (Monday, May 16, 1927)

SHARP TREMBLOR HITS VENTURA. An earthquake, sharp but of short duration, awakened many Venturans at 3:20 oÕclock this morning. The shock is reported to have cracked several plate glass windows in the business section, but did no other damage. No tremblor reports from the surrounding districts were received, indicating that the disturbance was purely local.

(The time of the earthquake is the same, but the dates are discrepent. Ed.)

1927

Aug 4

0425 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 248.

4:24 a.m. VI+? Santa Monica Bay. Origin located under Santa Monica Bay by means of the Pasadena and Riverside seismograms. this shock had about the same energy as the Inglewood (1920) earthquake as measured by the area over which it was felt, but caused only minor damage, because of the location offshore.

The shock was felt quite noticeably at Ventura, fifty miles from the origin, in spite of the unfavorable hour for perception.

The Ventura Star, Vol. 3, No. 43 (Thursday, August 4, 1927)

LIGHT QUAKE ROCKS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, No Damage is Reported From Ventura to El Centro is Area Shaken

Los Angeles -- An earth tremblor of general proportions and heavy intensity in some districts was recorded in southern California at 4:25 am today.

A sharp shock of earthquake was felt here in the downtown business district where early morning workers reported that buildings were rocked by the concussion.

The tremblor was reported as far north as Ventura, 75 miles up the coast. It extended south to El Centro, but was of slight intensity in the Imperial Valley district. The shock was felt in San Bernardino, Hollywood, San Pedro, Long Beach, and Catalina Island, the latter 23 miles off the coast. The bay regions including the cities of Santa Monica and Venice, reported the hardest shocks and the business district of Pasadena was rocked by the tremblor.

While some excitement prevailed among early morning risers, no damage has been reported.

Colonel H. B. Hersey, head of the local US weather bureau, described the quake as a "gentle undulating wave". Official records of the tremblor showed it began at 4:24 1/2 am and lasted for about 20 seconds. At the California Institute of Technology it was announced that the seismograph record of the shock would not be available for several hours.

NO DAMAGE HERE. Venturans were startled early this morning by a rather prolonged earthquake, variously described as a "long, gentle rolling, quite distinct", and "a slipping of the earth, much different from the Santa Barbara shock". The tremblor occurred at 4:25. No damage has been reported, although managers of the telephone, gas and power companies made immediate investigations of their properties.

A message over the telephone from the Santa Barbara News stated that the quake was not felt in Santa Barbara.

Santa Paula Review, Vol. 1, no. 43 (Thursday, Aug. 4, 1927)

TEMBLOR SHOOK UP TOWN THIS MORNING. Santa Paula, in common with a large section of southern California, was stirred by an earthquake shock about 4:20 Thursday. The shock was quite plainly felt and of considerable duration as quakes go.

Locally there were the usual stories of rattling dishes and stopped clocks, but no damage of any consequence was reported.

At Fillmore the shock was felt quite distinctly and caused great excitement. Many a householder arose, and looking out saw lights flash on in the neighboring houses. No damage was done so far as could be ascertained. Dishes were rattled and many clocks stopped. One couple that were aroused in time to see the wheeled crib in which their baby slept sliding across the floor.

Santa Paula Chronicle, Vol. IV, no. 249 (Thursday, Aug. 4, 1927)

Local Folks Are Awakened By Quake -- No Damage Anywhere. Two distinct earthquakes shocks were felt here at 4:22 and 4:24 oÕclock this morning. The first was the most severe, being east and west in direction. Pictures were shaken, chandeliers swung back and forth, windows rattled and most folks awakened by the shock. There was no damage as far as could be learned. -- Felt south to San Diego, east to Bakersfield.

The Daily Oxnard Courier, Vol. XXI, no. 28 (Thursday, Aug. 4, 1927)

Two Earthquakes This Morning; No Damage. Two of the most pronounced quakes felt here for some time was [sic] registered at 4:23 and 4:24 this morning. It seems all but the really soundly sleepers felt the tremor which lasted probably 30 seconds.

So far as the Courier could learn there has been no damage done anywhere in this section.

Windows rattled in some houses and also some dishes. In one downtown rooming house some occupants on the second floor became frightened and rushed into the hallway.

Santa Paula, Ventura and other county cities report feeling the quakes, but report no damage.

The earthquake was hardly felt at Santa Barbara, reports from that city stated.

At LA the quake was about the same as in Oxnard, with no damage reported.

A truck driver stated that the quake at Colton damaged the walls of two buildings.

The Morning Press, Vol. LXIV, no. 316 (Friday, Aug. 5, 1927)

LOS ANGELES AND ENVIRONS SHAKEN BY QUAKE; NO DAMAGE. coast towns from Ventura south to a point probably fifty or sixty miles south of Los Angeles felt the quake with about equal severity while the mountains rumbled and shook in the San Bernardino area sixty miles east of Los Angeles.

Imperial Valley, which received the last previous heavy shake Jan. 1, 1927, did not feel todayÕs disturbance. Neither did Santa Barbara, on the coast a hundred miles north, notice the movement.

1927

Aug 26

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 249.

4:40 a.m. V+? Santa Barbara. Two sharp shocks in rapid succession frightened people; many ran into the streets; first shock caused the alarm. Felt at Ventura. -SRC&GS.

Lompoc Record, 53rd year, no. 22 (Friday, Aug. 26, 1927)

QUAKE REPORTED AT SAN JULIAN THIS MORNING. A severe earthquake occurred this morning at 4:45 oÕclock at the San Julian Rancho. No damage resulted, according to Wm. Dibblee, but the quiver awakened everyone on the ranch. If the quake reached the city no one here has reported it.

Word comes that a smart quake was felt at Santa Barbara at the same hour, but no damage occurred there.

At the time of the big earthquake in Santa Barbara the tremor was distinctly felt in Lompoc but it was no more severe at the San Julian than any other place in this locality. Some large cracks were opened up in the walls of the old adobe mansion on the ranch by the big quake.

1927

Nov 4

0551 hrs

USDC, 41-1, p. 167, 1970 ed.

"West of Pt. Arguello" 34 1/2 N, 121 1/2 W, int. IX-XI (MM). The shock was widely recorded by seismographs. From Lompoc to the coast at Honda and Surf, there were heavy earth and rockslides on steep slopes, spurting of water, and formation of sand craterlets. Chimneys were wrecked at Lompoc and some were damaged at Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria. A house shifted on its foundations at RoberdÕs Ranch. Felt from Morgan Hill to Redondo Beach to Sanger. Tide gages recorded a tsunami which was about 6 feet high at Surf. Heavy shocks were felt on two vessels 27 and 14 miles, respectively, from Point Arguello.

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 231.

5:51 a.m. Probably X. At sea, west of Point Arguello, Santa Barbara Co.

This was the largest earthquake in California since January 22, 1923. It was recorded over the world as a stronger shock than the destructive Santa Barbara earthquake of 1925; was reported felt to distances of two hundred miles; attained intensity of fully IX in the region of the shore near Surf, nearest the origin.

The shock was an exception to the ordinary Califrnia submarine shocks in producing a small seawave, which was recorded on the tide gauges at San Diego and San Francisco, and observed at Surf and Port San Luis. At Surf the rise of the water was six feet; at Port San Luis it was five.

In the region nearest the origin, from Lompoc to the coast at Honda and Surf, the usual phenomena associated with severe earthquakes were reported; earth and rock slides on steep slopes, spurting of water from crevasses and formation of sand craters, changes in the flow of springs, etc. Chimneys were generally wrecked in Lompoc, the nearest point of any size, and some were damaged as far away as Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo Co., and at Santa Maria, Santa Barbara Co.

(see Byerly, P., 1930. BSSA 20, 53. Ed.).

BSSA, Vol. 20, n. 2, p. 56.

Santa Barbara - Pendulum clocks stopped; chandeliers swung; "slowness" of motion noted.

Santa Ynez - Pendulum clocks stopped; chandeliers swung; felt by all.

Solvang - Vases rocked; chandeliers swung.

Ventura - Pendulum clocks stopped; sleepers awakened; very old pipeline broken.

Goleta - All sleepers awakened.

Buellton - A few articles thrown over.

Carpinteria - Pendulum clocks stopped; all sleepers awakened; school bell rung.

Gaviota - Sleepers awakened; nothing thrown over; wall clock stopped.

Oxnard - Moved furniture; articles overthrown; cracked wall "reported".

Santa Maria Daily Times, Weekly Vol. XLV, no. 32 (Friday, Nov. 4, 1927)

EARTHQUAKE ROCKS CITY. An earthquake reported by University of California authorities as being as severe as the Santa Barbara tremblor of 1925, shook the buildings of Santa Maria, Lompoc, Arroyo Grande, Los Alamos, Santa Barbara and other cities along the central California coast at 5:52 am today.

In Santa Maria the weaving of hotel buildings, private residences and club buildings was so intense that hundreds of persons fled to the streets and lawns in their night clothes.

Several buildings in this city showed cracks where the disturbance occurred and split the masonry and a few bricks were reported to have tumbled off the Masonic building. Several windows were reported broken, and shoes, canned goods, medicine bottles and other articles on shelves in groceries, drug stores and shoe stores were shaken to the floor in many instances.

The worst of the temblor seemed to be at Surf where a tidal wave washed in, destroying the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks for many yards and inundating the railroad station.

-- Chimneys shaken down at Arroyo Grande.

Daily Oxnard Courier (Friday, Nov. 4, 1927)

Friday Nov. 4 has article from wire service: Earthquake shocks felt on California coast -- apparently felt at Oxnard, although there is no direct mention. Ed.

Santa Paula Chronicle, Vol. V, no. 26 (Friday, Nov. 4, 1927)

Earth Tremblors Shake This City. Earth tremors of half a minute duration visited Santa Barbara county at approximately 5:55 this morning. The center of the quake was at Santa Maria where a number of windows were broken, it was announced.

Lompoc Record, 53rd year, no. 32 (Friday, Nov. 4, 1927)

BIG BUILDINGS SHATTERED BY HEAVY SHOCK; DAMAGE WILL REACH LARGE SUM.

The most severe earthquake shock ever experienced in Lompoc in the memory of local inhabitants visited this section at 5:53 o'clock this morning, causing a great amount of damage. Some of the finest business blocks in the city were shattered by the quake, and practically every home in the community sustained some loss.

The Lompoc Branch of Los Angeles First National Trust and Savings Bank sustained the greatest amount of damage, but the Bank of Italy building, Stillman Block, I.O.O.F. building, Hotel Arthur, high shcool, and grammar school, and other structures show more or less evidence that they have been dealt a heavy blow. The new theater building and new post office building apparently escaped as there is not a sign of even a crack in these structures. In the stores good were piled on the floors in great confusion and in homes dishes and bric a brac were demolished.

The first shock was felt at 3 o'clock this morning and was severe enough to awaken most of our citizens. This was followed in the next half hour by three more slight quivvers, but the big crash came at seven minutes to six. During the day there have been dozens of light shakes that have made the building rattle.

DAMAGE IS GREAT. It is impossible to estimate the amount of damage suffered by the community as the loss is spread over a majority of the residents of the city and valley as nearly every family sustained some loss. Probably on-third of the chimneys went down or were so badly shattered that they will have to be repaired before they can be used. Dishes, china , and canned fruit suffered in every home.

The damage to the Los Angeles Trust and Savings Bank building will be appraised by a representative who is coming from the south today. The cornice at the top of the building was demolished. Some of this fell to the sidewalk when the big quake came this morning and an examination showed that the balance of this ornamental strone would fall with the next slight shake. The building was roped off early this morning and the tons of stone on the corner was removed. This was soon accomplished and the bank was able to open as usual at 9 a.m.

Dr. Jones, Dr. Bryson, and Dr. Swartz have offices on the second floor of this building. The quarters of the first two named were badly wrecked. Plaster and cement fell in different parts of the building and it is showing some cracks in its walls.

The Bank of Italy building shows several cracks and some of the plaster fell in the main banking room. Other buildings showing new cracks are the Stillman building and the I.O.O.F. building. None of these appear to be serious.

A large plate glass window in McGee's store in the Stillman building was demolished, and two plate glass windows at Bailey's Store in the same structure were cracked. Smith Hardware Co. escaped with one small window broken.

CELITE FEEL SHAKE. The quake was evidently just as severe at White Hills as here in town, but the Celite Company lost very little time and their operations are proceeding as usual today. The store building and pool room at the quarry city were quite badly wrecked. These structures are built of chalkrock blocks and some of the walls fell in. The stock of merchandise at the company store was a tangled mess this morning. The company shut down for a short time while their electric lines were being tested, but after this precaution had been taken the operations went ahead as usual. The large mills are built of corregated iron and steel frames and none of these structurees were damaged. The new machinery also escaped.

OCEAN COMES IN. The ocean rolled in high at Surf during the time of the quake this morning and onlookers state that it splashed up on the sand dunes. Between Baroda and Surf the highway buckled up similar to the way the paving at Goleta buckled at the time of the Santa Barbara earthquake. Trains on the main line are held up and are not expected through until this afternoon. It is reported that the track is out of line at Honda.

LINES ARE INTACT. The quake did not cause any interruption in telephone services, either locally or long distance. The lights went out for a few seconds this morning but this was due to the high lines slapping together and throwing out the automatic switch at the local substation.

NO ONE WAS HURT. Not a single person was injured as a result of the shiver. It had the effect of rousing everyone out at an early hour and hundreds rushed up town expecting to see the business section in ruins. This hurry resulted in an auto- mobile crash on West Ocean Avenue in which a young lad was hurt.

Business men had a sorry mess on their hands. Jams and glass goods in the grocery stores crashed to the floor and resulted in considerable loss to these merchants. The two local drugstores also lost considerable in merchandise.

A broken window and the widening of old cracks seem to be the only damage at the grammar school. The science building at the high school lost a lot of plaster and the walls are cracked.

CENTERS IN LOMPOC. Apparently the shock centered here in Lompoc. Brisk shakes occurred both in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara but very little damage was reported in either place.

Not as hard an earthquake as in Santa Rita in 1902. Our earthquake had almost as much sway as the big one that occurred in Santa Barbara. "But it didnÕt end up with a big jerk like ours did and I think it was the jerk that flattened out our city" said Eaves.

SANTA RITA NOT SHAKEN BADLY THIS MORNING

Santa Rita district, which was the center of disturbance in the earthquake that shook the valley about 26 years ago, was not nearly as badly shaken this morning as the lower part of the valley and the city, in the opinion of old-time residents. Very slight damage was done this morning through the Santa Rita district, so far as reported whereas in the quake years ago stoves were knocked down and houses were wrenched from their foundations.

The older residents of Santa Rita are recalling today the terrifying experiences of that more severe quake years ago. Cracks were opened in the roads and great boulders were loosened on the mountain sides and the houses were wrecked severly. In the shaking up received this morning the extent of the damage was milk sloped [sic] out of pans and such minor mishaps.

VALLEY ESCAPES WITH VERY SMALL DAMAGE

Grover McCandless, superintendent of the Union Sugar Company's farm in the lower valley, rushed to town at an early hour this morning expecting to see every brick building laid low by the big quake. He was surprised to find the damage so light.

Mr. McCandless reports that the shocks was [sic] very severe down the valley but that no damage was done at the sugar company's big ranch.

Santa Paula Chronicle (Saturday, Nov. 5, 1927)

7 shocks: 1 am til 7 am. (UP story) The shock here was of a rolling nature and did no damage. The movement was from west to east, several observers contend, instead of from east to west which would place the center of the disturbance in the Pacific Ocean instead of on the San Andreas earth fault.

The Morning Press (Saturday, Nov. 5, 1927)

LOMPOC FEELS EARTH SHOCK. Buildings Cracked and Railroad Track is Damaged in one spot.

An earth movement, supposedly at sea to the south of Lompoc, was felt along the coast yesterday morning shortly before 6 oÕclock, and considerable damage was done in the vicinity of Lompoc. Some buildings were cracked, windows broken and chimneys damaged in Santa Maria and Santa Ynez also.

In Santa Barbara the shock was felt in a swaying motion which awoke many inhabitants, but did no damage. There was no jolt here.

In Lompoc the first shock was felt at 3 oÕclock, followed later by three more, one of them said to be the most severe in 25 years. The cornice fell from a portion of the Lompoc Branch of the Los Angeles-First National Bank and the building was cracked. Later some of the remaining cornice was pulled down. The bank of Italy, the Odd Fellows building, the Science Dept. of the old High School and several other buildings were damaged and a third of the chimneys in the place were either shaken off or damaged, it was stated. The new unit of the High School was not damaged, neither was the new post Office nor the theatre was hurt. Plate glass windows were broken in some places and stocks in grocery stores and drug stores were shaken to the floors in some cases. Dishes were broken in many houses. The highway buckled in one place near Surf.

Ronald Adam, publisher, of Lompoc, stated last night that the shock was heavier than one felt 25 years ago when Los Alamos was badly hurt.

County Collector George W. Tomlinson and County Auditor Albert T. Eaves of Santa Barbara were both in Lompoc when the shocks came.

The shock disarranged some of the rails of the Southern Pacific near Honda on the coast, and delayed trains for about 3 hours.

San Luis Obispo felt the shocks but was not damaged. Bakersfield also felt the tremor.

Three more shocks were felt in Lompoc last evening.

The Ojai, Vol. XXXVI, no. 45 (Friday, Nov. 11, 1927)

EARTHQUAKE THOUGHT TO HAVE AFFECTED WELLS. Manager M.W. Phillips of the Ojai Power Company gives it as his theory that the recent muddiness that developed quite suddenly in the wells that supply Ojai with water originated in the earthquake that was felt distinctly in Ojai last Friday morning. He stated that he could not account for the murky water that came from the system until he heard that wells around Lompoc and Santa Maria, where the quake was also felt, were also affected in various ways. Some of them which had never been known to flow suddenly developed a strong stream of water.

The Lompoc Record, 53rd year, no. 52 (Friday, March 23, 1928)

Mentions that SP bridge spanning the Santa Ynez River was thrown out of alignment in Nov. 4 quake.

1927

Nov 4

BSSA, Vol. 29, n. 1, p. 251.

Point Arguello. Many aftershocks occurred, but few have been listed. The steamer "Floridian," at sea in the region of the epicenter off Point Arguello at about 11 a.m. experienced four shocks which made the sea appear to "shimmy." About noon the steamer "Los Angeles", then in the same region, felt two strong shocks of considerable duration. Aftershocks were reported by the press at Santa Maria at 6:12 a.m., 6:14 a.m., and 7:42 a.m., and one at San Luis Obispo at 7 a.m.

1927

Nov 5

BSSA, Vol. 29, n. 1, p. 251.

12:17 a.m., 1 a.m., 3:37 a.m., 6:25 p.m. Point Arguello. Aftershocks. The first was "mild" at Surf; the second was reported from Paso Robles to Hadley Tower, San Luis Obispo Co.; the third from Surf, Santa Barbara Co., to Hadley Tower, south of San Luis Obispo; the fourth was the strongest of the immediate aftershocks at Lompoc, where it added slightly to the damage by widening cracks opened by the greater shock. On the same date shocks were reported at Buellton, Santa Barbara Co. at 4:06 p.m., and 7:10 p.m.; both of intensity IV.

The Ventura County Star, Vol. 3, No. 122 (Saturday, Nov. 5, 1927)

Severe, Jerky Tremors Hit Coast Town; Buildings Cracked at Lompoc; Surf and Santa Maria Felt Shocks

Santa Maria -- Described as "severe, jerky shakes", additional earth tremblors last night and early today struck cities along the central California coast damaging buildings in Lompoc.

Quakes which at frequent intervals rocked Lompoc cracked the walls of buildings and brought residents hurrying from their homes in this city and in Surf.

S.P. TRAINS RUN. San Francisco -- Another series of slight tremors was felt along the southern California coast early today.

Three mild tremblors were felt at Surf, Paso Robles, and Hadley Powers, following severe quakes of yesterday, according to reports to the San Francisco offices of the Southern Pacific Company.

The shocks started at 12:17 am and the final one was felt at 3:47 am. The seismograph at the University of California registered one at 12:32 am and a series of six shocks yesterday afternoon from 12:05 pm to 7:53 pm in addition to the tremblors earlier in the day.

Rail traffic interrupted by the early tremblors yesterday has been resumed and damage to the tracks has been repaired, the Southern Pacific announced.

Santa Paula Chronicle (Saturday, Nov. 5, 1927).

(UP story) The shock here was of a rolling nature and did no damage. The movement was from west to east, several observers contend, instead of from east to west which would place the center of the disturbance in the Pacific Ocean instead of on the San Andreas earth fault.

The Ventura County Star, Vol. 3, no. 123 (Monday, Nov. 7, 1927).

SLIGHT TREMOR FELT IN VENTURA. Slight tremors were felt in Ventura at 6:40 Sat. evening. No damage has been reported locally. Severe jerky tremors have been felt along coastal towns early in the morning and had been sufficient to cause a few buildings to show cracks.

SAN DIEGO FEELS QUAKES. An earthquake of rather severe intensity shook parts of San Diego at 7:29 last night. The only damage reported was at the courthouse where the water main to the street was cracked. Ships in the bay felt the quake.

The Ventura Free Press, Vol. 51, no. 83 (Tuesday, Nov. 8,. 1927).

A few days ago the earth under us did a little wriggling, but it was merely the echo of a distant center. (Probably an understatement, as this line was taken from a long article glorifying the wonders and blessings of Ventura. Ed.)

 

1927

Nov 18

1932 hrs

USDC

Santa Maria, 35N, 120 1/2W, int. VI (MM)

BSSA, Vol. 29, n. 1, p. 252.

7:32 p.m. VII. Santa Maria, Santa Barbara Co. This shock was centered, apparently, to the northwest of the origin of the larger earthquake on November 4, as while a much weaker shock it ws nearly as strong as the earlier shock at Santa Maria, chimneys falling. At Betteravia, nearby, and at Bicknell, in the same region, intensity of VI was reported. The shock was reported from San Miguel, San Luis Obispo Co., and Parkfield, Monterey Co., on the north, to the Santa Barbara Channel on the south, and was recorded at nearby seismography stations. The intensity estimates of observers as reported in the Seismological Report of the Coast and Geodetic Survey should be considered only after comparison with the descriptions accompanying them.

The Morning Press (Saturday, Nov. 19, 1927).

SLIGHT EARTH TREMOR FELT NORTH OF HERE. Some windows were cracked and a few chimneys that were weakened some time ago fell last night at 1:52 oÕclock when an earth shock was felt in Santa Maria, in the northern end of Santa Barbara county.

At Lompoc it was light in force and of brief duration, much less severe than the shock two weeks ago and doing no damage this time.

At San Luis Obispo the shock was only of a secondÕs duration, and so light that it passes unnoticed by many residents.

1927

Dec 5

BSSA, Vol. 29, n. 1, p. 251.

3:45 a.m. IV+? Point Arguello. Felt at Buellton, IV; Surf, Guadalupe, and Santa Maria, Santa Barbara Co., and at Santa Margarita, San Luis Obispo Co. It awakened many and caused alarm at Santa Maria. At Buellton two shocks fifteen seconds apart awakened many. -Santa Maria Times, December 5, 1927; SRC&GS.

Santa Maria Daily Times, Weekly Vol. XLV, no. 41 (Monday, Dec. 5, 1927)

Another Tremblor Rouses Citizens. Santa Marians were awakened this morning at 3:45 oÕclock by an earthquake the duration of which was estimated at 30 seconds.

No damage was done by the shock, although many residents lost the rest of the mornings sleep from nervousness and fear of another tremblor.

This mornings shock was the latest of a series which have affected this region in the past month, none doing any damage to speak of.