PROPERTY DETAILS



Northwind Farm ~ Hardwick, Massachusetts

Stone wall borders, an elegant laneway and landscaped granite sign frame this property beautifully.  With fabulous views of New Braintree and set well back off the road, this farm is an absolutely amazing example of a classic New England Farm with all of the contemporary amenities desired for today's modern lifestyle.

  

In 2005 two additions & major upgrades were completed.  These include;

• New Roof & Insulation Upgrades
• All New Andersen Windows & Doors
• New Buderis Boiler - Radiant & Forced Hydro Heat
• New Air Conditioning Units
• New Fresh Air Exchange System
• New Humidification System 
• New Central Vacuum System
• New Security, Fire & Carbon Monoxide System
• High Speed Internet, Cable & Satellite Dish 

Upon entering the home, there is a mud room with built in storage “lockers”, coat closet and a powder room.  The ceramic tile floor has radiant heating.  The huge eat-in-kitchen kitchen features hardwood floors, a pantry closet, double ovens, gas cooktop and a farmers sink opening to a family dining area with a massive working brick fireplace and beehive oven.  For more formal entertaining there is both a lovely living room & dining room with hardwood floors, crown molding, wainscoting and working brick fireplaces.  The new family room is large & bright and features cathedral ceilings, ceiling fan, many Andersen windows & double french doors, a Jotel gas stove, wall to wall carpet with radiant heat and a custom wet bar with glass cabinets, copper sink, custom tile counter top, wine chiller and mini fridge/freezer with ice maker.  The family room opens out to a magnificent wrap around stone patio with a sitting wall, built-in hot tub, fire pit and views of the back yard and fields.

When moving from the family areas to the private 1^st floor master suite there is a wide slate hallway with radiant heat, french doors opening to the stone patio, a storage closet and laundry facilities.  The master bedroom features double french doors, lots of windows, a cathedral ceiling, ceiling fan, built-in bead board entertainment & corner cabinets, a Jotel gas stove and wall to wall carpet.  The master bathroom boasts a marble, double vanity, double jacuzzi tub, 4’ x 4’ glass shower with marble seating shelf, ceramic tile with radiant heat and a heated towel rack.  The spacious walk-in closet is professionally built-out with shelving, medicine cabinets & jewelry drawers.  The closet has wall to wall carpet and attic storage above.  The master suite opens out to the stone patio.

The second floor features 2 large bedrooms with ceiling fans, built-out closets and 2 full bathrooms with skylights.  Hardwoods floors throughout.  For upstairs storage there are 2 linen closets, a walk-in attic area and an additional attic above.

The exceptional home features a finished, insulated, attached 2 car garage with central vacuum and 2 automatic openers.  Above the garage is a light, spacious home office or game room with 2 skylights.  Built-in cabinet storage and lateral filing cabinets make plenty of room for storage.  Additionally, high-speed internet access, cable, satellite and multiple telephone lines are available.

Connecting the garage and home is a bright, airy three seasonporch with screens for the summer and glass for the winter.

The main basement is split into two sections.  One side is finished into a guest full guest suite or playroom and features built-in cabinets & bookshelves, a full bathroom with closet, wall to wall carpet and a kitchenette & additional wine chiller.  The other side is unfinished for storage, has built-in shelving and a washer/dryer for horse laundry.  The new basement under the master suite is completely open with double doors and heat available making for a roomy workshop or even more storage.

The entire house was decorated by a professional thru the Boston Design Center in 2005 and is fully negotiable, if it suits the buyer’s taste.

Additionally, the property has been professionally landscaped with irrigation available.

Northwind Farm also features a superb play yard area for children.  A Rainbow cedar swing set with slide & sandbox.  A custom built “mini NWF” playhouse with working, screened windows, flower boxes and surrounded by boxwood hedges.  The play yard is fully visible from the kitchen, family room, master suite and stone patio. 

Northwind Farm is presently in 61A, an agricultural classification.
! 2011 TAXES ARE LESS THAN $6,000 !

  

For animals Northwind Farm is a dream come true.  For dogs, the farm features a huge yard with underground fencing to play, a three season porch to relax on, and a doggie door into the house.

For horses, the list of amenities is virtually endless and include;

• 4 Box Stall, Insulated, Center Aisle, Lester Barn with Foaling Stall
• Custom Tack Room & Grain/Storage Area
• Heat Rise Sensors & Smoke Detectors
• Large, Attached Hay & Shavings Storage Shed
• Sitting Porch
• Fully Matted Aisle Way & Stalls
• Filtered Water
• Power At Each Stall For Fans & Heated Buckets
• 3 Rail Wooden Fencing Installed In 2003
• 4 Huge Hayfield Turn-outs With Heated Nelson Automatic Waterers
• New 150' x 80' Well Drained Stone Dust Riding Ring
• Hot & Cold Outdoor Water  

Hardwick, Massachusetts has endless miles of conservation land and country hacking / trail riding.  Northwind Farm is within 80 miles to nearly all USEA Area 1 Events and has 3 MFHA Fox Hunts nearby.  Its central location makes the number of shows, events, hunts, and schooling options truly astonishing!

   

In Massachusetts, between Boston and the Berkshires, there is a little-known farming town called Hardwick.  The town of Hardwick is 40 square miles with a population of 2,700 and is a timeless example of a charming New England farm town with more than 250 years of history.  The center of town is the Hardwick Common.  The Common, with its picture perfect back drop, emerald green grass and dotted with marble monuments is like a step back in time.  The Common is bordered by the General Store, a meeting house, library, churches and magnificent antique colonial homes.  A stones throw in any direction brings you to endless miles of rolling fields, family farms and conservation land.

Hardwick was originally purchased from the Indians by settlers in 1686 to be used as an agricultural community because of its abundant grazing lands and orchards.  The town was incorporated in 1739 and boasts the oldest annual fair in the United States.  The Hardwick Agricultural Fair is in its 250^th year and is still a social highlight of the year.  Baking the best blueberry pie and winning the hay contest still holds the same distinction as it did more than 200 years ago.

With the proximity of the Quabbin Reservoir Recreation Area, the East Quabbin Land Trust, Harvard University Forest, and Wachusett Mountain State Park & Ski area, Hardwick is a haven for active recreation and nature lovers.  Horseback riding, hiking, running, walking, biking, skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, fishing, bird & wildlife watching, nature photography, and family picnicking abound!

The Quabbin Reservoir, on the west side of Hardwick, is one of the largest water supplies in the world and the largest body of water in Massachusetts.  The Quabbin Reservoir, created in the 1930’s, was a solution to Boston’s drinking water crisis.  The Hardwick area was chosen for its pure and plentiful upland water supply.

The East Quabbin Land Trust is a local group dedicated to fostering the sustainable use of the areas natural and historic resources.  To date the East Quabbin Land Trust has over 2,500 acres in conservation.

In 1907 Harvard University created the Harvard Forest to be used for research and education.  The Harvard Forest is over 3000 acres and is one of the oldest, most extensively studied forests in North America.

Finally, the 3,000 acre Wachusett Mountain State Park and Ski Area, located just to the northeast, is another source of boundless natural beauty.  The ski area has a peak elevation of over 2,000 feet, 360 degree panoramic views, 22 trails and 8 lifts.

Unspoiled and completely authentic Hardwick has held steadfastly to its agricultural roots.  As you could imagine organic farms of all types abound.  You’ll feel as if you’ve entered a different world to at the Sunday Hardwick Farmer’s Market.  Fresh baked goods, coffee and a chance to catch up.  The wealth of fresh, local, organic produce, meats, poultry, dairy, maple syrup, and even wine, is astonishing.  Realizing that it can be delivered to your door step was truly mind-boggling!

Hardwick, the little-known farming town in Massachusetts?  That’s just the way the residents; both year-round and seasonal would like to keep it but I’ve never been good with secrets!

Please contact Jill Gravel at gravelrealestate@verizon.net or 413-967-7353 for additional pictures, floor plans and information. $699,999.