They say some in Boston felt the Canadian earthquake this afternoon at about 1:40.

From Boston College’s Weston Observatory. Earthquakes in New England and surrounding areas. The data for 1924-1974 is from the U.S. Geological Survey, and the data for 1975-2006 is from the Weston Observatory archives of earthquakes recorded by the Northeastern United States Seismic Network.

Yes, it’s true. Earthquakes do occur on a regular basis in New England. Notable examples of earthquakes that caused damage in New England and adjacent areas are: the earthquake off the coast of Cape Ann, MA in 1755; two earthquakes near Ossipee, NH in 1940; and an earthquake near New York City in 1884. In spite of this regular occurrence of earthquakes in the northeastern United States, most people living in New England probably think of places like California or Japan when they hear the word “earthquake.” While Californians have learned to expect earthquakes, residents of New England typically consider the ground beneath their feet to be “solid as a rock.” Nonetheless, the record of earthquake activity in the United States shows that, while the highest level of activity is, of course, in the western part of the country, earthquakes are quite common in many areas of the eastern United States, including New England.

More on the Canadian government’s earthquake site.