Multiple sources have told Xpress of a series of loud explosions in the Richmond Hill area on Wednesday, July 25, at around 10 p.m. Did you hear anything? We're trying to locate the source of the noise.
The explosions were heard as far away as Beaverdam and the Five Points neighborhood at the intersection of Broadway and Chestnut, but those who heard the loudest noise seem to have been residents on Bingham Road and Riverview Church Road in the Richmond Hill area. There was a bonfire blazing in the area where a new National Guard Armory is under construction, and a second-hand report suggests that something explosive was tossed into the fire.
Juanita Cooper, who saw the fire, was the first to contact the paper about the matter. "Fireworks are fine, but noise without something pretty is no good at all," she said. "They shouldn't have a big bonfire in our neighborhood anyway. What would they do if the fire spread? They just don't think."
Riverview Church Road resident Sue Wise said, "My husband and I thought they were shooting fireworks. It was really loud!"
Angela Poore, on Bingham Road, said, "It sounded like military training."
A spokesman for the National Guard said there had been no mention of the incident at its headquarters, and the Asheville Police Department told Xpress that it received no noise complaints that evening.
Stay tuned — and let us know what you heard in the comment field below.
— Cecil Bothwell, staff writer
The explosions were heard as far away as Beaverdam and the Five Points neighborhood at the intersection of Broadway and Chestnut, but those who heard the loudest noise seem to have been residents on Bingham Road and Riverview Church Road in the Richmond Hill area. There was a bonfire blazing in the area where a new National Guard Armory is under construction, and a second-hand report suggests that something explosive was tossed into the fire.
Juanita Cooper, who saw the fire, was the first to contact the paper about the matter. "Fireworks are fine, but noise without something pretty is no good at all," she said. "They shouldn't have a big bonfire in our neighborhood anyway. What would they do if the fire spread? They just don't think."
Riverview Church Road resident Sue Wise said, "My husband and I thought they were shooting fireworks. It was really loud!"
Angela Poore, on Bingham Road, said, "It sounded like military training."
A spokesman for the National Guard said there had been no mention of the incident at its headquarters, and the Asheville Police Department told Xpress that it received no noise complaints that evening.
Stay tuned — and let us know what you heard in the comment field below.
— Cecil Bothwell, staff writer
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In the western part of Montford, we lay awake wondering whether West Asheville was being bombed or what. Since this idea is ludicrous, we decided it had to be fireworks--I've been asking everyone what holiday is on July 25 every since... so far no luck. I rather like the option of being asleep at 10 pm on a weeknight, in case whoever was exploding stuff actually thought it was a good idea. It wasn't.
By Stephanie
08/02/2007
I live right by the Wachovia on Haywood, and heard them loud and clear. I've asked other people what it was, and they said it was probably a Tourists' game. Didn't check to see if they were playing that night.
By bill
08/02/2007
Live in north Asheville off Merrimom and definitely heard the noise Wednesday night. Am still curious as to its source.
By Chas
08/02/2007
I heard them in West Asheville near Kmart and due to the heavy moisture in the air was able to see colored (green and red) reflections that I assumed were fireworks. They seemed to be coming from the North and the East - my original thinking was something going on at Grove Park.
By edtomfish
08/02/2007
I live off of Merrimon Ave, and had a clear view of the fireworks. It was a display that rivaled..if not bested, the 4th in-town show. It went on for some 15 minutes. They were shot off at the Grove Park in or somewhere there on town mountain. It was absolutely a professional show...Did the Grove Park have an anniversary or something?
By youbettie
08/02/2007
It was definitely fireworks. And, I'm assuming they had to be coming from the Grove Park. I agree with youbettie, it was fabulous! A real treat! Our whole family watched them out on the drizzly street over the trees near our house. I don't doubt though that others could hear it very far away, it rumbled like thunder as it echoed in the mountains.
By fortunesmiled
08/03/2007
the noise was people exploding because robin cape killed ballfields for our kids at richmond hill.
Go Ape...dump cape
By dumpcape
08/08/2007
I wasn't in town, but seems to me Elaine's birthday is the end of July, and she loves the fireworks!
By usedtolivethere
08/09/2007
I heard more loud explosions this week, including last night around 10pm and 2am! At 10pm (aug 10 07) it sounded like I was behind a military firing range, with machine gun fast bangs, while the 2am it was more like fireworks.
By oreandra
08/10/2007
yeah,
two nights in a row i have heard the bangs from my westville house. both of them were not fireworks, and they came from the direction of the armorie?
what the hell is going on!!
By chuck
08/11/2007