Residents throughout St. Lawrence County today are recalling what it felt like when an earthquake about 47 miles northeast of Massena rattled the North Country Wednesday.

The quake on the Ottawa, Ont.-Quebec border registered 4.3 on the Richter Scale and struck at about 1:37 p.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It is reported to have lasted about 45 seconds.

“I was sitting at a card table in the dining room working on a photograph album and I felt a funny sensation of movement,” said Elsie G. Scruggs of Massena. “I glanced over at the dining room table and the silk flower arrangement on the table was trembling quite steadily for about 30 to 45 seconds. I kept staring at it as it moved and wondered if I was experiencing an earthquake. I did not feel a strong movement as experienced in the ‘big one’ we had many years ago in the 40's.” Heather Simser of Canton said the quake “shook a lamp back and fourth that was on my TV.”

Said Melanie Gilbert of Canton, “I was just sitting around relaxing and started to feel and see my place shake. It was small, but I really thought I was out of it, being I work midnights and haven't slept yet. But wow. I was shocked to feel the earthquake that was in Canada.”

“I was standing in my office in Canton talking with a colleague when I felt a tremor,” said Karen Morgan. “I immediately thought of a quake, but it was so sudden and fleeting, that I dismissed the thought. I didn't think I should even mention it to her, even as we had been discussing previously the quake felt earlier this year, which was a bit disturbing. Then when I heard this evening on the Channel 7 news reporting the preview of news at 11:00 about an earthquake, I realized that I had felt the tremor.”

"My house shook pretty good in Massena walking both dogs and getting them barking for awhile, but I could feel the floor shaking for awhile pretty good," said Gary Trippany of Massena.

Other NorthCountryNow.com viewers said they also felt the quake. “I just thought it was snow sliding off the roof but then realized there wasn't snow left up there,” said one. “Also realized it wasn't snow when the ground was still moving a couple seconds later!”

Amy Randall said she did not feel the quake, but added it’s a “good thing we do not have a nuclear plant in upstate New York.”

And Morgan is also concerned. “I do not intend or want to be an alarmist by any means, but should we in the North Country who sit on a well-known fault, perhaps think about the possibility of a major quake, in light of the three that have occurred this year in other parts of the world. We are located on a major fault, and it is not all that inconceivable, in light of the other earthquake disasters, as well as other natural disasters, that have happened this year. I certainly am ‘game’ to a plan of preparedness and, if necessary, evacuation.”

The U.S. Geological Survey earthquakes web page at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Quakes/us2011incp.php#details provides details about the earthquake.