On the Rocks in an Earthquake; ‘Otherwise, A Pretty Normal Day’

By Robert Beck

“The folks on the rocks, all of them began working!” he mentioned.

We have been sharing early earthquake notes with a man on the present store within the Central Park Dairy. My first thought was that perhaps these huge rocks that all the time have a nesting of individuals on prime when it’s sunny may need been the very best place to be, however I had skilled the shaking too, and there was no time to Google the query.

The Dairy man checked his telephone once more. “It was centered in Lebanon, New Jersey. 4 level eight,” he mentioned.

“The place is that?” my spouse requested me. “About fifty miles west of right here,” I mentioned. We gave the impression to be the one folks within the room stuffed with customers who have been conscious or cared that there had simply been an earthquake. My spouse grew up in California, so this was nothing to her. I’ve solely been in two; each have been right here in New York.

We purchased a few these new shirts with the park bench on the entrance after which strolled over to the carousel. It was open however not working. Individuals mingled in entrance, questioning whether or not to remain or proceed with their day. I leaned on the railing and appeared on the horses. This carousel, in-built 1908, was deserted on the Coney Island trolley cease they usually introduced it right here, after the earlier one at this location—the third—burned down in 1950. Its official title is the Michael Friedsam Memorial Carousel.

I requested one of many employees inside concerning the experience not working. He mentioned it was getting common upkeep that morning, after which the earthquake occurred, so there was extra to take a look at. It was good to have somebody on-site after an earthquake who is aware of the merry-go-round mechanicals, in addition to the workings of a hundred-year-old, 52 Key-Much less A. Ruth & Son Mannequin 33 Band Organ.

The employee informed me how they examine the carousel every single day earlier than opening it to the general public. “We test all of the horses (there are 57), the attachments on the prime and backside, the stirrups, and the way they transfer. Then we run it twice, however with out the music.”

I requested one other employee if she was there when the quake occurred. Her eyes widened. “Oh sure,” she mentioned. “You would really feel the partitions transfer and listen to the home windows rattle. Somebody yelled, ‘Get out of the constructing!’ however I stayed right here.”

This was when all of the telephones inside earshot began shrieking emergency alerts, letting us know a seismic occasion occurred and giving recommendation lengthy after the very fact. It mentioned nothing about what to do in case you are on an enormous rock.

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Word: Earlier than Robert Beck wrote West Facet Canvas, his essays and work have been featured in Weekend Column. Learn Robert Beck’s earlier columns right here and right here.

See extra of Robert Beck’s work and his UWS studio by visiting www.robertbeck.web  And let Robert know you probably have a connection to an archetypal UWS place or occasion that may make an excellent West Facet Canvas topic. Thanks!

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