'Shook the Building': Andover's Stories from the Blasts

It's almost two days after the bombs went off but New England is still reeling from the devestating blasts that hit the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday afternoon. And Andover residents are among those with fresh memories that cannot be un-done.

Here are two accounts of the blast from Andover residents:

Elizabeth Westner, 34, Marathon Runner:

"I was running the race yesterday and had just passed mile 22 when I heard the news. I knew my brother, aunt, and cousin who I had just seen were fine, but worried terribly about my parents who were waiting for me at the finish line.

They finally stopped us runners when we got to 24.5 and the people who worked in the synagogue nearby let us stranded runners stay there until buses arrived and we were driven off to Boston Common. I finally got in touch with my parents and they picked me up from Kendall Square.

I still haven't been home because of logistical difficulties getting in touch with my club member who has my stuff but hope to get home tonight. I am thankful that everyone I know and love is okay and my heart goes out to the victims and their families."

Linda Haskell, Spectator: 

"We were about 2 blocks beyond the finish line when my kids and I heard the first blast. We had ducked into City Sports on Boylston St to get out of the cold. It sounded like they had lit off a cannon - it was loud and shook the building. The kids thought they were fireworks.

Then there was another one so we stepped outside and saw all the smoke down near the finish. We tried to move away from the area but could not get far because everything was blocked off around Boylston for the runners.

I was on the phone with my husband at the time of the blasts and he was on the other side of Boylston. He hopped the barricades to come find us and then we all hopped back over to evacuate the area. We still didn't really know what had happened but we knew it wasn't good! Happy to be home safe and sound!"