New York Earthquake of 1884

20-second seismogram of the 1884 New York earthquake (Dominion Observatory, Can.). From NY Tribune - scale not available.

On August 10, 1884, a more powerful earthquake hit. Estimated from 4.9 to 5.5 in magnitude, the tremor made houses shake, chimneys fall, and residents wonder what the heck was going on, according to a New York Times article two days later.

The quake was subsequently thought to have been centered off Far Rockaway or Coney Island.

http://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/the-coney-island-earthquake-of-1884/
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/new_york/history.php
http://www.gendisasters.com/data1/ny/earthquakes/eastcoast-earthquake-aug1884.htm