Reports of Tremors in Norton, but No Damage, Police Say

At 7:12 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16, an earthquake in Southern Maine resonated all the way to the Boston area, including Norton.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter of the quake was in Lake Arrowhead, ME, about 20 miles west of Portland, ME, and registered a 4.0 on the Richter Scale (initial reports indicated a 4.6).

The epicenter was about 92 miles from Boston.

Twitter and Facebook reports indicate that the effects were felt in Massachusetts and New Hampshire as well. In Norton, residents of Norton Glen, N. Washington Street, James Street, E. Main Street and Middlesex Avenue reported feeling the quake on the Norton Patch Facebook page.

"It felt strong to me! My kids were blaming each other for shaking the bunk beds!" wrote Annette Bennett Mather. 

Many others did not feel the tremors and did not know of the earthquake until seeing news reports and logging onto social media sites.

"At the Yelle PTA and none of us felt a thing," wrote Sheila Mackie. "Yelle School is earthquake proof."

Norton Police Department did not report any injuries or damage in town, however.

"Dispatchers received several calls from Norton residents feeling the trembling, but that was the extent of it," said Norton Police Lieutenant Todd Jackson. "Nothing else was reported."

For more information about tectonic activity in New England, check out the US Geological Survey's information page.

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