Mike's Lake House Guidebook
Orange Ma
Orange is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts with under 10,000 people.
The Millers River which flows through the center of town was dammed in 1790 and industry began in the former farming community. Named for William, Prince of Orange the town was incorporated in 1810 and rode the wave of the industrial revolution.
After severe economic decline in the twentieth century, Orange is experiencing a revitalization of the local economy and strengthening community through cultural events, local organic farming, Food Coop and the Orange Innovation center as well as beautiful nature trails make the North Quabbin a hidden jewel.
Orange is the set of Stephen King's Castle Rock series.
The 112-acre Lake Mattawa boasts very clear water - you can see 15 feet down - and the reputation of producing trophy trout. The trout's success here is probably due to the numerous springs that feed the lake and the high number of the smelt they forage on. Other fish found here include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, bluegill, yellow perch, golden shiner, white sucker, and brown bullhead. The state stocks the waters each spring with rainbow and brown trout. Two paved ramps on Lake Mattawa Rd. provide public boat access; motorboats are restricted to 10 hp or less. Swimmers enjoy a small, unsupervised beach. The shoreline of the lake is 75 percent developed, but set within a forested "neighborhood," the lake still offers a lovely spot for summer recreation. Anglers also head here in winter, to try their hand at ice fishing.
Lake Mattawa
The 112-acre Lake Mattawa boasts very clear water - you can see 15 feet down - and the reputation of producing trophy trout. The trout's success here is probably due to the numerous springs that feed the lake and the high number of the smelt they forage on. Other fish found here include smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, bluegill, yellow perch, golden shiner, white sucker, and brown bullhead. The state stocks the waters each spring with rainbow and brown trout. Two paved ramps on Lake Mattawa Rd. provide public boat access; motorboats are restricted to 10 hp or less. Swimmers enjoy a small, unsupervised beach. The shoreline of the lake is 75 percent developed, but set within a forested "neighborhood," the lake still offers a lovely spot for summer recreation. Anglers also head here in winter, to try their hand at ice fishing.
Stephen King's Castle Rock series on Hulu was filmed in Orange!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwGojKHjq60
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhPyCWmN6iI
Orange
Stephen King's Castle Rock series on Hulu was filmed in Orange!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwGojKHjq60
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhPyCWmN6iI
Sightseeing
Swift River Valley Historical Society
40 Elm StTrails for hiking and or biking
Located in Athol, MA
https://www.northquabbinwoods.org/bearsden.html
Bearsden Forest Conservation Area
Located in Athol, MA
https://www.northquabbinwoods.org/bearsden.html
Right around the corner from Mike's Lake House.
https://thetrustees.org/place/bears-den/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2F
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/12+Anderwood+Lane,+Orange,+MA/bearsden+orange+ma/@42.5548461,-72.3470725,14z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x89e147fa03a3a78d:0x8b2b28e6ae68040!2m2!1d-72.3249305!2d42.5701582!1m5!1m1!1s0x89e14821852eb147:0x6b41630f4b648f6d!2m2!1d-72.3259059!2d42.5402892!5i1
Bear's Den
18 Neilson RdRight around the corner from Mike's Lake House.
https://thetrustees.org/place/bears-den/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2F
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/12+Anderwood+Lane,+Orange,+MA/bearsden+orange+ma/@42.5548461,-72.3470725,14z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x89e147fa03a3a78d:0x8b2b28e6ae68040!2m2!1d-72.3249305!2d42.5701582!1m5!1m1!1s0x89e14821852eb147:0x6b41630f4b648f6d!2m2!1d-72.3259059!2d42.5402892!5i1
Doane Falls
https://thetrustees.org/place/doanes-falls/
https://www.northquabbinwoods.org/chestnut_hill_trail.html?fbclid=IwAR2SNbp0P0SyxHGWqHe2DH6WnAt7Vrgr182ijpFFskSyGvzlEpb9FdfgjN8
Chestnut Hill Trail is a lovely, yellow-blazed 3.25-mile loop through an open hemlock forest and other woodlands that show the result of a responsibly planned timber harvest. The trail begins at the end of Gidney Rd. and then cuts west near Coolidge Swamp through Orange State Forest. From the southwest corner of the loop, where the trail turns sharply east, a spur to the west leads to a bridge over the picturesque Whetstone Brook and into Wendell State Forest. The main trail climbs and descends along the flank of Chestnut Ridge, skirts Seeds of Solidarity Farm, and ends with the last leg along Gidney Rd. (The open field on the east side of Gidney is the site of the annual Garlic & Arts Festival.) The nearby North Pond Ridge Trail and the Bullard Farm Loop are also part of the Chestnut Hill Trail system.
Directions:
From Rte. 2, take Exit 15 and go toward Orange center. Turn left at the first light onto West River St. Go to the end of that street and turn left onto Holtshire Rd. Proceed to corner with view of Lake Matawa and turn right onto Chestnut Hill Rd. Go to end and turn right onto GIdney Rd. and proceed to small parking area on left.
Image of globeClick for a Map
Contact:
New England Forestry Foundation
32 Foster St.
PO Box 1346
Littleton, MA 01460
info@newenglandforestry.org
Chestnut Hill Road
Chestnut Hill Roadhttps://www.northquabbinwoods.org/chestnut_hill_trail.html?fbclid=IwAR2SNbp0P0SyxHGWqHe2DH6WnAt7Vrgr182ijpFFskSyGvzlEpb9FdfgjN8
Chestnut Hill Trail is a lovely, yellow-blazed 3.25-mile loop through an open hemlock forest and other woodlands that show the result of a responsibly planned timber harvest. The trail begins at the end of Gidney Rd. and then cuts west near Coolidge Swamp through Orange State Forest. From the southwest corner of the loop, where the trail turns sharply east, a spur to the west leads to a bridge over the picturesque Whetstone Brook and into Wendell State Forest. The main trail climbs and descends along the flank of Chestnut Ridge, skirts Seeds of Solidarity Farm, and ends with the last leg along Gidney Rd. (The open field on the east side of Gidney is the site of the annual Garlic & Arts Festival.) The nearby North Pond Ridge Trail and the Bullard Farm Loop are also part of the Chestnut Hill Trail system.
Directions:
From Rte. 2, take Exit 15 and go toward Orange center. Turn left at the first light onto West River St. Go to the end of that street and turn left onto Holtshire Rd. Proceed to corner with view of Lake Matawa and turn right onto Chestnut Hill Rd. Go to end and turn right onto GIdney Rd. and proceed to small parking area on left.
Image of globeClick for a Map
Contact:
New England Forestry Foundation
32 Foster St.
PO Box 1346
Littleton, MA 01460
info@newenglandforestry.org
https://mass-eoeea.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=b0c88edfe1eb4168a943a35c5e26c8fc&fbclid=IwAR3QPumSWWsEI3Gw4zaoSxG16tyl7hwINmjV0C-FAP4ccxO8Zi33zZAkga4
48 locals recommend
Quabbin Reservoir
100 Winsor Dam Rdhttps://mass-eoeea.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=b0c88edfe1eb4168a943a35c5e26c8fc&fbclid=IwAR3QPumSWWsEI3Gw4zaoSxG16tyl7hwINmjV0C-FAP4ccxO8Zi33zZAkga4
Food scene
Friendly people. Nice store. Great sandwiches at the deli. Baked goods. Beer, wine, ice cream, breakfast. Books by local authors, Cuban cigars.
New Salem General Store
410 Daniel Shays HwyFriendly people. Nice store. Great sandwiches at the deli. Baked goods. Beer, wine, ice cream, breakfast. Books by local authors, Cuban cigars.
White Cloud Diner
627 E River StWorker owned, great food, wide selection. yum.
Anne's Dairy Drive In
360 E Main StIce Cream and Fried food all summer long.
Friendly Town Pizza
1604 S Main StFood made with love. Great eggplant grinder, pizza, salads.
Great local grocery with everything you need including organic produce and local meat less than ten minutes from Mike's Lake House.
43 locals recommend
Hannaford Supermarket
896 Putney RdGreat local grocery with everything you need including organic produce and local meat less than ten minutes from Mike's Lake House.
Orange's local Food Co-op. Great selection of organic, healthy produce, prepared foods, treats.
Quabbin Harvest (North Quabbin Community Co-Op)
12 N Main StOrange's local Food Co-op. Great selection of organic, healthy produce, prepared foods, treats.
It's good American Chinese food- this is Orange, Ma, not New York lol.
https://www.teahouseinc.com/
7 locals recommend
Tea House
326 E Main StIt's good American Chinese food- this is Orange, Ma, not New York lol.
https://www.teahouseinc.com/
About 20 minute drive, our favorite for a real night out. Great drinks, nice atmosphere, good food, Blues on Monday nights. Super busy on the weekends. https://www.gardnerale.com/
15 locals recommend
Gardner Ale House
74 Parker StAbout 20 minute drive, our favorite for a real night out. Great drinks, nice atmosphere, good food, Blues on Monday nights. Super busy on the weekends. https://www.gardnerale.com/
Things to do
Rent a kayak or paddle boat and adventure down the lazy river. Great folks, reasonable rental prices.
Billy Goat Boats (At the Orange Community Boathouse)
25 E River StRent a kayak or paddle boat and adventure down the lazy river. Great folks, reasonable rental prices.
North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival
60 Chestnut Hill RoadIn September, not to be missed! https://garlicandarts.org/
Orange Public Library
348 Main StA very nice library close to Mike's Lake House
If you're like me, you visit the local library wherever you are. This is a truly beautiful library!
Athol Public Library
568 Main StIf you're like me, you visit the local library wherever you are. This is a truly beautiful library!
Open Thurs-Sunday https://freighthouseantiques.net/
History of Freight House Antiques & Cafe
Main Hallway, Freight House Antiques
Main Hallway, Freight House Antiques
The original structure of the Freight House was first built in the mid 19th century by its first owners, the Boston & Maine Railroad, as a functioning railroad freight house adjacent to the Erving Center Station, formerly the Box Car Restaurant. Its third and current owners, lifelong area residents Jeff and Rita Dubay, opened the doors of Freight House Antiques in the Fall of 1993.
The Dubays purchased the building with its contents: thousands and thousands of napkins, of all shapes, sizes, colors and themes. The couple hadn't planned to sell napkins to make room for the Antiques but, the Erving Papermill closed their napkin division in 1988, meaning the overflowing napkin inventory would eventually give way to the aesthetic & culinary delight that is the Freight House Antiques & Cafe that people from the World over know and love today.
The Cafe evolved from just coffee and muffins to the destination it is today because of Jeff & Rita's synergentic creative energy, their drive to be fully self-employed, and a mutally keen intuition for what Route 2 travelers (the majority of our patrons) wanted as they walked through the door.
The menu theme: "Like Mom Would Make" is the only way Jeff & Rita wanted food to be served. Rita is the mother of six children and so one could argue Rita knows a thing or two about cooking & baking, and what makes her Cafe menu so unique is that even a meal as small as a sandwich or a bowl of homemade soup, turns out to be a "comfort meal".
Rita's hand baked goods are truly "from scratch" with her famous (Featured Recipie and featured cover photo, August/September 2015 Cook's Country Magazine) "Mixed Berry Scones" at the Top of the Food chain at the lunch counter- because Rita and her incredible scones will be on the season premier episode of PBS's America's Test Kitchen, which aired in October, 2016!
Freight House Antiques
11 East Main Street Open Thurs-Sunday https://freighthouseantiques.net/
History of Freight House Antiques & Cafe
Main Hallway, Freight House Antiques
Main Hallway, Freight House Antiques
The original structure of the Freight House was first built in the mid 19th century by its first owners, the Boston & Maine Railroad, as a functioning railroad freight house adjacent to the Erving Center Station, formerly the Box Car Restaurant. Its third and current owners, lifelong area residents Jeff and Rita Dubay, opened the doors of Freight House Antiques in the Fall of 1993.
The Dubays purchased the building with its contents: thousands and thousands of napkins, of all shapes, sizes, colors and themes. The couple hadn't planned to sell napkins to make room for the Antiques but, the Erving Papermill closed their napkin division in 1988, meaning the overflowing napkin inventory would eventually give way to the aesthetic & culinary delight that is the Freight House Antiques & Cafe that people from the World over know and love today.
The Cafe evolved from just coffee and muffins to the destination it is today because of Jeff & Rita's synergentic creative energy, their drive to be fully self-employed, and a mutally keen intuition for what Route 2 travelers (the majority of our patrons) wanted as they walked through the door.
The menu theme: "Like Mom Would Make" is the only way Jeff & Rita wanted food to be served. Rita is the mother of six children and so one could argue Rita knows a thing or two about cooking & baking, and what makes her Cafe menu so unique is that even a meal as small as a sandwich or a bowl of homemade soup, turns out to be a "comfort meal".
Rita's hand baked goods are truly "from scratch" with her famous (Featured Recipie and featured cover photo, August/September 2015 Cook's Country Magazine) "Mixed Berry Scones" at the Top of the Food chain at the lunch counter- because Rita and her incredible scones will be on the season premier episode of PBS's America's Test Kitchen, which aired in October, 2016!
Trail Head Outfitter & General Store
1 S Main StGreat resource for adventurers. https://www.trailhead.biz/