Sunday, December 6, 2009

California 1906 Earthquake, postmarked 2009


(Reproduction postcard)

San Francisco
In the early morning of April 18, 1906 San Francisco was struck by one of the largest earthquakes recorded in North America.

postmarked in 2009 with a 28 cent stamp

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The sender writes:

My grandmother experienced the 1906 quake and fire. She slept in Golden Gate Park with her family.

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Found on the web:

In the aftermath of the earthquake, an estimated 75,000 citizens simply left San Francisco. The remaining homeless population of 250,000 established makeshift camps in park areas and amidst the burnt-out ruins of city buildings. As fires burned across the eastern side of the city, refugees migrated west towards Golden Gate Park and the Presidio seeking food and shelter. Eventually, the Army would house 20,000 refugees in military-style tent camps.

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