Around 10 am on Monday, the 27th of January, a tectonic plate shift in York Harbor, Maine sent a vibrating earthquake over Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and even Rhode Island. The earthquake originally recorded a 4.1 magnitude on the seismometer and was officially labeled at 3.8 later Monday afternoon. 

Typically, these natural phenomena are not associated with the eastern part of the United States, however, typically two earthquakes are recorded each year in the New England region. Monday’s earthquake was classified as a once in a five-year event in the region, causing popular attention in the media. Although not as common, or severe, earthquakes in the northeastern region often can be felt by a broader range of land compared to those on the western seaboard of the United States. An average earthquake in the northeast can typically be felt in a 60-mile radius. Interestingly, some folks in eastern Pennsylvania claimed they felt small rumblings after the earthquake. This event was previously followed by slight recordings of shaking in both New Jersey and New York.  

This recent event has caused popular interest within this specific natural disaster, and many have investigated the history of earthquakes in the region. Within recorded history in the northeast region, in the year 1638, Vermont had an earthquake that recorded an overall 5.8 magnitude on the seismometer scale. This is widely considered the largest earthquake in New England. As for the entire northeast region, in 1755, Cape Anne, New Jersey, recorded an earthquake of magnitude 6.5. This shock recorded severe damage to the colonial Boston waterfront and goes down as one of the few earthquakes that has resulted in considerable damage to the area.  

Here at Hingham High School, many students caught word of the earthquake throughout Monday morning and afternoon, however little too few experienced any feelings of trembles following the earthquake. Junior Chase Beighley, commented late Monday morning, “I did not feel the earthquake at all. It was not until lunch time did, I hear that one even occurred.” Similar experiences were reported from others around the school, as senior Brook Strachan said, “It was not until my dad texted me during the day until I knew there was an earthquake, he said it felt like there were construction workers outside of the house.” The old foundations of an old school numbed the trembles of an event that only occurs once in every five years.