It was a perfect afternoon for a road trip — a sunny autumn day with a hint of crispness in the air. As we made our way via back roads from Orange to Warwick, we were compelled to stop for a couple of chickens crossing the road. Why? I know why we stopped, but I'm not sure about the reason for the crossing. There was nothing but fields and pretty little stands of trees on either side, but something deep in their consciousness made them decide to take to the road. Perhaps they were just like us — out to explore Warwick.

Located on the northeastern edge of Franklin County with Erving and Northfield on the west, Orange on the south, Royalston on the east and New Hampshire to the north, Warwick is a quiet town of 750. The town was established in 1763 when land was given to descendents of 39 soldiers from Roxbury who had bravely fought in the Canadian campaign. In truth, though, the hilly land had been settled some twenty years earlier. Agriculture was the town's first economic mainstay, but by the mid-nineteenth century, there were saw mills, pail, stave and axe factories, blacksmith shops and tanneries.

But it's the quiet rural setting that keeps residents in Warwick these days. And it is definitely rural. In fact, much of the town is either farmland or forest. Warwick is home to Mount Grace, which at 1,625 feet is the second highest elevation in Massachusetts east of the Connecticut River. The 1,428-acre state forest offers opportunities for hiking, riding, horseback riding, cross-county skiing and snowmobiling. Some of the hikes are on part of the 117-mile long Metacomet Monadnock Trail, which runs through Mount Grace forest on its way from Connecticut to Mount Monadnock. Though it’s a fairly strenuous hike to the top of Mount Grace, there's a lookout tower on top that offers some great views.

Mount Grace is identified with a famous episode during the Colonial skirmishes with the Wampanoag Indians known as King Phillip's War. In 1676, Mary Rowlandson of Lancaster was captured, along with her infant daughter Grace, by a band of King Phillip's warriors. On a march toward Canada, the baby died and was supposedly buried by her mother at the foot of the mountain that now bears her name.

Modern day Warwick is home to a number of thriving businesses, including Chase Hill Farm, a family business that's part of the Our Family Farms milk cooperative. Owners Mark and Jeanette Fellows practice sustainable methods of agriculture, including rotational grazing, seasonal calving, draft horsepower and no fertilization or pesticide use. Their certified organic milk and farmstead colby and cheddar cheese is produced by a herd of 32 grass-fed cows. The farm has been in the Fellows family for generations, and work is a indeed a family affair, right down to daughters Molly and Maggie who pitch in feeding calves, moving cows and helping with the haying. Jeanette is giving a presentation on Chase Hill's farmstead cheese as part of the CiderDay activities (see Simply Living).

Warwick is also home to woodworkers Jack Cadwell, John Williamson and Michael Humphries. A lifelong resident of Warwick who lives on the same road as his father, Jack Cadwell specializes in building custom windows, primarily to match the architecture of historical buildings and homes. He went into business in 1996 after many years of working at a nearby producer of architectural windows and doors. Because Jack places a high value on supporting other businesses in the community, all his windows are made from locally harvested and milled white pine. The glass he uses in his windows is recycled from old houses, allowing him to recapture the beautiful rippled texture of historic glass. Jack can also match historical window and trim patterns, making his windows the perfect fit for renovating historic New England buildings.

John Williamson moved to Warwick in 1999 with his wife and son. Active members of the Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Boston, they purchased 68 acres in the woods to provide a peaceful retreat for parish members and their families. John received formal training in art, architecture, and sculpture at the Rhode Island School of Design, but only later applied his design training to wood, which he became involved with through carpentry. His work now includes a broad range of custom woodwork jobs, from cabinets and small furniture to custom millwork, trim carpentry, and outdoor garden structures.

Since 1975, Michael Humphries Woodworking has produced fine furniture, cabinetry and architectural millwork in Warwick. Though started from a small barn workshop, the business has grown over the years to include a staff of skilled craftsman working with sophisticated machinery in a much larger shop. They work from their own designs or the designs of their customers on projects of any scale, from jewelry boxes to entire rooms of wall cabinets. Michael believes in enhancing the warmth and atmosphere of any space with texture, light and color, and this guiding principle is definitely reflected in his distinctive, high-quality designs.

You can see examples of the work of these three woodworkers (as well as the work of many other local craftsman) by visiting www.northquabbinwoods.org, a site maintained by the New England Forestry Foundation to bring attention to the forests of the North Quabbin. The site showcases the work of more than 20 woodworkers and promotes sustainable forestry, ecotourism and recreation in the region. There's also an extensive links section with additional resources.

Though its not exactly on the beaten path, Warwick is a great place for a country getaway, whether to take advantage of the recreational opportunities offered at Mount Grace or just to enjoy the scenery on a lazy afternoon drive. We'll be back, even if it means waiting for those chickens to cross the road again!

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