Shortly before noon on Wednesday, April 13, 1949, an earthquake rocked the area from British Columbia to Oregon and caused extensive damage. Seven people died and at least 64 were injured in the heaviest shock ever recorded in the region. In Seattle, downtown streets and buildings were jammed with people but no deaths occurred. As soon as the ground began to shake, photographer Ken Harris headed out the door for Pioneer Square, where he predicted damage would be extensive. His front page photo shows the bricks that cascaded from the cornice of the Seattle Hotel at First and Yesler Way, damaging at least five automobiles. At least a half a dozen buildings in the Pioneer Square area had damage to cornices or walls.
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