The Mystery of Andover’s Loud Booms: Fireworks, Firearms, or Something Else?

If you’ve lived in Andover for any amount of time, you’ve likely experienced it: that unmistakable, heart-stopping, rattle-the-windows Loud Boom. It’s the kind of noise that makes your dog bark, your kids yell, and your neighbors text each other, “Did you hear that?!” The real mystery, though, is where these booms are coming from. Are they coming from the Sheriff’s Department firing range? Or is it an underground club of teens testing out their discount fireworks from a questionable Wisconsin roadside stand? The truth may shock you—literally.

Let’s start with the first theory: the Sheriff’s Department firing range. Some locals insist the booms are nothing more than police training exercises. Fair enough—law enforcement has to practice somehow, right? But let’s be honest, these booms don’t sound like someone shooting targets. They sound like someone’s trying to send a cannonball into orbit. Are they secretly preparing for a medieval siege? Is the department testing a new “shock-and-awe” strategy to stop speeding drivers? One can only hope the booms aren’t a warning signal for some apocalyptic scenario we’ve yet to hear about (no pun intended).

Then there’s the mischievous teen theory. You know the type: too much energy, a questionable amount of pocket money, and access to a suspicious “friend of a friend” who hooks them up with illegal fireworks. Every town has these kids. And honestly, what better way to pass the time than blowing stuff up? But the real question is, why does it always sound like their “fun” happens at the precise moment you’ve just settled into bed or, worse, while you’re trying to enjoy a peaceful evening binge-watching Netflix? Teens, if you’re reading this, never mind teens don’t read blogs.

Of course, there are more … creative theories floating around. Some claim it’s Andover’s version of Bigfoot stomping through Bunker Hills in steel-toed boots. Others have suggested alien spacecraft testing cloaking devices—because obviously, extraterrestrials would choose Andover as their top-secret headquarters.

Whatever the source of these infamous booms, one thing’s for sure: they’ve become a rite of passage for anyone living in Andover. If you’re new to town, don’t worry; you’ll hear one soon enough. And when you do, take a moment to reflect on the many theories, text a friend, post on Facebook then Nextdoor and embrace your official welcome to the neighborhood!