also suffered severe structural damage. The majority of the devastation occurred in neighborhoods closest to the bay, primarily in the business district. There were four documented deaths and numerous injuries.
In newspaper articles in the following days, extensive reports of damage appeared. Many of these reports also stated that the damaged buildings were those built poorly using cheap materials, not secured to their foundations or built on stilts, like some in Hayward. Editorials stated that buildings built on made-ground, or landfill, seemed to suffer greater damage. In fact, with these comments in mind, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce commissioned a study on the effect of the earthquakes on structures. Had the report been completed and published, these findings might have been taken into account as the rebuilding began. In the long run, the report never appeared and the effects of the quake were actually downplayed in the media in ensuing months and years.
As with all natural disasters, buildings were rebuilt and life went on only to be rattled again by the even larger earthquake of 1906. What was the difference between these two events? They happened on different faults. The 1906 event occurred on the San Andreas Fault, which runs almost the entire length of California, while the 1868 event occurred on the Hayward fault, which extends roughly from the Santa Clara county line in the south to San Pablo Bay in the north. Much to the dismay of scientists, this was the last time the Hayward fault had an eruption of any significance. That's not good for those of us living and working along the fault today. The Hayward fault creeps by millimeters every year; evidenced by warped buildings and sidewalks, relieving some of the stress on the fault deep within the earth. However, the general belief is that the creeping does not do enough. Scientists predict that the Hayward fault has a 27 percent chance of producing a 6.7 or greater magnitude earthquake within the next 30 years. It is potentially the most dangerous fault in Northern California.
In our new exhibition, The Great Shake of '68, HAHS (Hayward Area Historical Society) explores the events of the 1868 earthquake and its impact on the Hayward area then and now. It will provide basic information necessary to understand why the earth shakes and how to be prepared for the next "Great Quake."
The Great Shake of '68
Tuesdays through Saturdays
Sept. 12 - Nov. 25
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hayward Area Historical Society
22701 Main Street, Hayward
Admission is free