What's that 'boom' in Middletown today? The sound of new housing

Hearing booms or some explosive sounds in and around Middletown today? No need to worry, township police say.

Construction on at the former Stone Meadows Farm on Route 413 will include large blasts Tuesday, according to Middletown Township Police, who took a preemptive strike at all the expected social media inquiries of "what was that loud boom?" with its own Facebook post, alerting residents and others in the area.

In a post to its Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon, Middletown said:

“Crews out at Stone Meadow Farm just called into dispatch to let us know they will be doing some blasting today ... like any minute now. Will this stop Facebook from being flooded with questions, concerns, theories, and made-up stories about the noise they just heard? Nope. But here is the boring, simple answer anyway.”

One resident agreed, posting in reply: “Facebook, NextDoor, Neighbors apps all about to blow up lol.”

The fate of Stone Meadows FarmStoried Middletown farm to sprout houses as bulldozers move in

Homes being built on last farm in Middletown

Stone Meadows was once the home of actor and producer Ezra Stone, who died in 1994. Locals fought for decades to preserve its 167 acres, but it was purchased by a housing developer who intends to construct “age-restricted” homes.

About 70 acres will be preserved.

Land-clearing began in early May, marking the end of an island of agriculture in that section of the township, which includes St. Mary Medical Center, the George School and several large housing developments and commercial centers. The farm is among the last in Middletown.