Blogs > N-H Media Lab and Archive

Following the happenings of The News-Herald Community Media Lab, as well as the library and archive, where we're digging to find historic people, places, events and things to see how much the times have changed or how much they have stayed the same.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Earthquake centered in Leroy Township rocked region 26 years ago today

Thanks to a tweet from Mark Johnson of WEWS-TV 5, I learned that 26 years ago today, an earthquake shook Northeast Ohio and portions of the Midwest.

On Jan. 31, 1986, I was a 15-month-old living in Macedonia, so my memories of the quake are nonexistent. But thanks to N-H Librarian Cindy Buchanan and our archive, I was able to learn more about the 5.0-magnitude temblor centered in Leroy Township.

The news of the morning quake made it in to that day's edition of The News-Herald because it was an afternoon paper at the time. (Click any images in this post to enlarge and read the clippings.)

The main story was followed by a map of the quakes reach, report of injuries, initial suspicion of what the quake was (including a sonic boom caused by the Challenger explosion) and a series of aftershocks.





I blogged previously about how the Perry Nuclear Power Plant is always prepared for a disaster, and the 1986 quake was evidence of that. Cost of opening the plant was increased and the opening delayed.



After the quake, scientists studied Geauga County, looking for any more seismological activity.

Six months later, scientists reported that the quake's epicenter was in Leroy Township -- instead of Hambden Township or Thompson Township, as originally thought. In that time scientists also reported there were 13 aftershocks through March 24, damage was limited to some structural issues and items falling, and 15 people reported injuries.


What scientists didn't know at that time was the cause. One suspicion was brine disposal in wells at Calhio Chemicals Inc. in Perry Township. That hypothesis also was reported on in March 1986:

Sound familiar? Recently, underground injections have been blamed for quakes in the Youngstown area. For more on that, see Expert: Wastewater well in Youngstown triggered quakes, Earthquakes could incite fracking policy shift, Ohio well owner undertakes study after earthquakes and Hundreds seek answers at Youngstown quake meeting.

Earthquakes of this magnitude are rare in Ohio. A September article from The Associated Press reports that the Jan. 31, 1986, quake was only the second in modern times to do damage to Ohio.


Buchanan's own memories of the earthquake include one young son giggling at his moving toys and another hollering about the TV moving.

Features Writer Janet Podolak said she was going to lunch with some girlfriends when the quake happened and saw people running outside their homes. She remembered one story of a woman who was swimming inside at Quail Hollow, who knew immediately that an earthquake was rumbling and was worried about the glass enclosure shattering and hurting her. She was uninjured.

What are your memories of the Jan. 31, 1986, earthquake?


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

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This day in area sports history: Jan. 31

1979: Mark Versaw (132 pounds) and Phil Speros (185) each record pins as Riverside defeats Wickliffe, 35-17, and St. Joseph is the lone area boys basketball team in the state poll, ranked fifth in Class AAA.

Monday, January 30, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 30

1968: The Browns use a second-round selection in the draft on LSU defensive end John Garlington, and third-rounders on Clemson guard Harry Olszewski and Southwest Texas State running back Reece Morrison.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 29

1957: Myron Podgurski nets 23 points in Madison’s 74-47 boys basketball win over St. John, and Rod Millhof’s 25 pace Burton in an 85-50 victory over West Geauga.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 28

1946: Benedictine, paced by Mike Medich’s 30-plus points per game, is lauded by the Painesville Telegraph as one of only six Class A boys basketball teams in Ohio that are undefeated.

Friday, January 27, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 27

1935: “Maroon scoring ace” Matt Ivary nets 12 points as Fairport takes sole possession of first place in the Lake Shore League with a 24-18 victory over Willoughby Union.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 26

2011: The University swimming team breaks three of its pool records in a 145-38 win over Hawken, with Mike Gaudiani (200 free), Nicholas Crane (200 IM) and Andrew Malone (50 free) all setting standards.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 25

2000: Carly Thomas and Katie Sprenger go 1-2 in all-around as Mayfield defeats Chardon, 128.65-103.3, in gymnastics, and Flora MacIvor takes the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke in South’s 65-21 swimming win over West Geauga.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 24

1989: Karen Porath scores 20 points and Jenny Clemens records a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds as Gilmour, ranked eighth in Ohio in Division IV, dominates Andrews, 106-28.

Monday, January 23, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 23

1978: The Chardon girls basketball team earns its ninth win in 10 tries, keyed by a balanced scoring attack led by Nancy Pokorny’s nine points in a 36-21 win over Kenston.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 22

1967: St. Joseph heavyweight Joe DeAngelo takes his match by a 3-0 decision as the Vikings spoil Mentor’s first wrestling match in its new gymnasium, 23-15.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 21

1956: Center Paul Inman nets 23 points to lead all scorers and tie Madison’s Ed Naughton for the West Reserve League scoring lead as Geneva Spencer defeats Madison, 62-46.

Friday, January 20, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 20

1945: The Barons get a five-goal third period to defeat Buffalo, 8-2 and pull within three points of American Hockey League Western Division leader Indianapolis.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 19

1934: Roy Culp scores 16 points, including a crucial free throw late that was the final margin in Kirtland’s 26-23 at Fairport, and backup guard Tom Poole sparks Mentor past Madison, 25-19.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 18

2010: Browns left tackle Joe Thomas and kick returner Josh Cribbs are named to the Pro Football Writers of American all-NFL team after their team’s 5-11 campaign.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 17

1999: Robbie Farmer scores two goals and assists on two others in Mayfield’s 9-0 Blue East victory over Kenston, and Mike Hood lights the lamp twice as Chagrin Falls doubles up Hudson, 4-2.

Monday, January 16, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 16

1988: Jeremy Fow (125 pounds), Wally McGregor (152), Dave McDonald (160) and Adam Lechman (189) each pin their opponents in Chagrin Falls’ 47-21 wrestling dual win over West Geauga.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 15

1977: Doug Jayne sweeps the 100-yard butterfly and 100 breaststroke as Riverside wins its first swimming dual of the season, 56-27, over arch rival Harvey.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 14

1966: Ed Kirchner “smoked the cords for 27 markers” according to the Painesville Telegraph and pace Wickliffe in a 68-43 Freeway Conference victory over Riverside.

Friday, January 13, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 13

1955: Indians starter Mike Garcia agrees to terms on his new contract for the upcoming season, when he’ll make $30,000 after going 19-8 for the American League champions the year before.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 12

1944: Ed Glavac scores 13 points as Willoughby Union takes out Hudson WRA, 36-31, and Tommy Burlington nets a pair of goals in the Barons’ 5-2 victory over Hershey.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 11

1933: In men’s college basketball action, John Carroll edges rival Baldwin-Wallace, 28-25, and Western Reserve records a 51-26 victory at Toledo.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 10

2009: LeBron James is unsure whether to commit to Team USA for the upcoming World Championships in Turkey or the 2012 Olympics in London, saying he “won’t be ready” to answer that question until next month.

Monday, January 9, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 9

1998: Pete Moran’s free throw with two seconds left is the difference in West Geauga’s 71-70 boys basketball win over Kenston, and University athletic director Tom Callow confirms he has held talks with the newly formed Premier Athletic Conference.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 8

1987: Kristin Chittle’s 27 points lead Berkshire in a 54-40 girls basketball victory at Richmond Heights, and former Indians general manager Phil Seghi passes away at the age of 69.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 7

1976: Doug Brown (132 pounds) and Dale Schlauch (138) each record pins as Perry defeats Geneva, 37-16, in a wrestling dual, and Mayfield records a 53-30 boys swimming win over Riverside.

Friday, January 6, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 6

1965: Dave McComb and Doug Senior each light the lamp in the third period, but a Barons comeback bid falls short and their playoff hopes take a hit with a 4-3 loss to visiting Providence.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 5

1954: Guard Bill Hauser nets 19 points as visiting Middlefield overcomes Harold Rex and Grand Valley, 61-48, in a nonconference boys basketball contest.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 4

1943: Cleveland Arena prepares to host a key 10-round light-heavyweight match between Jimmy Bivins and Ezzard Charles, expecting a crowd of around 11,000 for a $40,000 gate.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 3

1932: Cleveland area club pro Eddie Williams cards a 150 for the weekend and ties for fourth in the Miami Open, which was won by Tommy Armour.

Monday, January 2, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 2

2008: Five players find the back of the net for University in a 5-1 Red North victory over Lake Catholic, and Scott Campbell’s third-period goal propels Chagrin Falls past Midview, 2-1.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

This day in area sports history: Jan. 1

1997: Starting forwards Shawn Kemp and Cedric Henderson miss Cavaliers practice at Gund Arena – Kemp for a bruised quad and Henderson so he could fly to Memphis for the birth of his child.