The morning of June 29, 1925 was one Santa Barbara residents wouldn’t soon forget.
In stories from survivors, they remember animals acting strange in the middle of the night, heavy rumbling that sounded like thunder, chimneys crumbling, and the front facade of downtown buildings falling apart.
But survivors also remembered how the city, and surrounding neighbors, came together to help rebuild. From the city of Los Angeles sending loaves of bread and milk, to the quick-thinking workers who shut off the city’s gas, water and electricity to prevent fires, flooding, and electrocution.
The Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara hosted a dramatic reading of several stories from earthquake survivors read by Betsy Green, a local historian and author, on Thursday night. The earthquake severely damaged parts of the city and reportedly killed 11 people.
Green said she collected the accounts by combing through newspaper archives, both locally and from other parts of the state, and even New Zealand. Her latest book, “Way Back When: Santa Barbara in 1925” includes stories from residents and visitors about what they remember from the earthquake and the days after.
Green shared a story from a resident named Margaret Pomeroy who woke up to trembling and her room rocking back and forth. In her account, Pomeroy described pictures swaying on the walls and everything in her home falling to the floor.
As she ran through her house she was thrown side to side. Pomeroy saw the street rising and falling, houses and trees swaying, and people running from their homes.
While the shaking was a rough awakening for many, Green said there wasn’t much panicking or looting in the aftermath.
“People acted pretty calmly,” Green read from survivor accounts. “Many of our homes were not severely damaged, but a lot of brick chimneys fell down so that we could not use our stoves. Some people used the fallen bricks to make barbecues in their yard to cook breakfast for themselves and their friends and their families.”
Green said the U.S. Marines were sent to Santa Barbara the day after the earthquake and camped in Peabody Stadium at Santa Barbara High School.
The city’s jail was severely damaged in the earthquake, so much so that people deemed to be violent prisoners were sent to a jail in Ventura. However, those deemed non-violent were allowed to go home, but had to go back to the jail each day to help clean up, according to Green.
In the days that followed, the city seemed to live outdoors. Residents relied on nurses, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and college students who lent a helping hand.
“College boys pitched in to help clean up the debris,” Green said. “Boy Scouts delivered telegrams, mail and telephone messages. They also acted as traffic officers, waiters, dishwashers, messengers, etc. The Girl Scouts opened a relief headquarters on the west side to provide free milk and other necessary supplies.”
Green said the city organized events where parents could drop off their kids while they worked on their homes and there were concerts in the parks so people could get a break and relax.
Sunday will mark 100 years since the earthquake struck. The city of Santa Barbara will mark the occasion on Saturday with a centennial commemoration on State Street between Figueroa and Anapamu streets from noon to 4 p.m.
The free event will include an earthquake simulator, a history walk, and disaster preparedness information.
