SF commemorates 119th anniversary of 1906 quake; woman participates for last time after 50 years

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco is marking the 119th anniversary of the 1906 earthquake and fire that nearly destroyed the city.

Every year on April 18, a moment of silence is observed at 5:11 a.m. at Lotta's Fountain on Market Street to remember those who lost their lives in the 7.8-magnitude tremor. More than 3,000 people died in the quake and fire and hundreds of thousands lost their homes.

Lotta's served as a meeting spot for citizens to reunite with their loved ones after the quake. It is the oldest surviving monument from that day.

The ceremony also included 30 seconds of fire engine sirens at 5:12 a.m., during the exact moment the earthquake hit. As part of the ceremony, many who attend dress up in Victorian-era outfits.

Mayor Daniel Lurie and former Mayor Willie Brown participated in the ceremony.

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Donna Ewald Huggins has been at every anniversary for 50 years portraying the legendary Lillie Hitchcock Coit, Coit Tower's namesake who was a champion for San Francisco Firefighters.

"It's just so wonderful to see the same people," she said. "I've been seeing some of these people here for years and years. I've watched families grow up. I've met children and they're now adults, and it's just it's been wonderful."

The city rebuilt following the earthquake thanks to its survivors, some of whom Ewald Huggins knew personally.

"I miss the survivors, I really missed them," she said. "I had so many close friends, but I realized that some of the survivors, when I was starting, were about the age that I am now," she said.

Ewald Huggins said this is her last year participating in the event.

"I'm ready to just think about it every April 18 and just remember how much fun I had and how much it meant to me," she said.

Following the ceremony on Market Street, everyone headed to Dolores Park for the annual gilding of the fire hydrant that saved the Mission District.