William Ellison Burke wrote a gossipy journal in the early days of Canterbury settlement. He has quite a bit in common with us:
An earthquake. My chums were asleep in a whare and I shook them up. The slab rafters were moving merrily. The shock was severe and probably the wet Swampy nature of the country, had something to do with it.
Jane Deans wrote in 1869:
It came as they usually do, without warning. A loud report like a cannon ball hitting the house, then a long rumbling noise like a long, heavy train passing over a wooden bridge, shaking violently all the time.
Her diaries and letters were mentioned in The Press article Quake sounds familiar, and her great-great-grandson Charles said:
It’s remarkable how emotive it is. It’s just so similar to what we are hearing time and time again now. We are living the same fear, worry and concern that she was back then … It is not just our generation that is going through this … The city has recovered before and it will again.
Since September 4 2010, we have learned about disasters, preparedness, geology and seismology. And loss. But we’ve also discovered that in sharing stories, a powerful link is made – one that cuts across time and place.
So think about writing your story – for now, but also for the future. We’d love you to share your stories and photos with us.
Other places to tell your story:
Christchurch City Libraries Blog 