Destination: Inside Middleton

Pro Athletes, Ice Cream and Low Taxes – Middleton Has It All

Like the old chicken vs. the egg routine, a drive through the rolling countryside of Middleton might have you wonder what came first: the cow or the ice cream. If there’s one thing that this once-sleepy suburban town just 20 minutes north of Boston is known for, it’s the ice cream at Richardson’s that has kids and adults salivating all over the North Shore.

But this town isn’t the giant cow pasture it once was generations ago. Buildings and businesses continue to strike up along the main thoroughfare, Rte. 114, including new boutique shops, restaurants, and schools. In fact, the new Howe-Manning Elementary School-a $32 million project that is slated to create over 100 new jobs-is scheduled to open by the fall of 2011 and will help alleviate an overcrowding issue that the town has been dealing with for years.

Not to be overlooked are a few new restaurants that have sprouted up around town recently. Freddy’s Place is a new breakfast and lunch spot (at 214 South Main St., next to Sal’s Pizza and Red Shoes) with great service and even better corned beef hash. Just up the street, you’ll also find Teresa’s, the large Italian-style restaurant where you can grab a martini while waiting for your veal parm. New to town is Rock’s Tavern, located in the space once populated by Gaven’s and where BBQ, pizza, and Italian favorites combine. Of course, there are a few old local favorites in town that still pack them in. You can’t go wrong with a few spicy maki tuna rolls from Blue Fin, steak tips at Dailey’s, or the eggs Benedict at The Real McCoy.

All of this comfort food makes sense when you look at the roster of professional athletes who call Middleton home, including legendary Celtics star Jo Jo White and current power forward Rasheed Wallace, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, former centerfielder Coco Crisp, former pitcher John Tudor, former Bruins stars P.J. Axelson and Sergei Samsonov, and current Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas.

But why Middleton? Pro athletes could have their pick of just about any town in the Boston area, yet many of them seem drawn here. According to Town Administrator Ira Singer, that’s because of Middleton’s semi-rural yet cosmopolitan feel, low crime rate, proximity to Boston, and great school system. “People gravitate towards that, and they respect each other’s privacy,” he says. Add to that a comparatively low tax rate, and the lure of Middleton becomes more apparent.

But there’s more to Middleton than just numbers and economic incentives, especially if you put the traffic of Rte. 114 in your rearview mirror and cruise along some of the backroads, many of which haven’t changed in decades. “My favorite part of town is where the Ipswich River wanders along Peabody Street with corn fields and hay fields and older homes,” says Singer. Multiple canoe and kayak put-in locations make touring the river by boat an easy and enjoyable activity in warmer months. This section of town is also home to one of the oldest oak trees in the state, said to be over 400 years old. It’s clear that in and around Middleton, there’s more than meets they eye.

And…Action!

Hollywood rolls into town with explosions, murder, and – of course– sex.

It’s no secret that hollywood has taken a liking to Massachusetts, and in particular, the North Shore. Over the past few years, multiple big-screen productions have set up shop in the area, and Middleton is no exception.

This summer, Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz will help to shine the spotlight on the town, albeit briefly. The movie Knight and Day features a scene shot in a Middleton field off Gregory Street designed to look like a cornfield in the Midwest. Filmed from a helicopter in the middle of the night, the scene features an airplane landing and exploding in a field (fireballs were added to the scene post-production).

Another film due out this summer will bring attention to the Candlelight Motor Inn on North Main Street. A scene from the murder-mystery Don McKay, starring Elisabeth Shue and Thomas Haden Church, was filmed in one of the rooms here. Candlelight employees recall Church keeping to himself during the filming, but that Shue was very friendly and talked with everyone. The motor inn also played host to an independent film from Haverhill director John Depew, 27 Down, which starred Playboy Playmate Jessica Erin Sylvia. The cast spent two weeks filming here in 2008, using the bar and one of its rooms for a murder scene.

Town Administrator Ira Singer notes that Middleton almost played host to the new Brendan Fraser movie, Furry Vengeance (which is set in the Oregon wilderness and tells the story of local creatures who don’t much care for real estate development), but lost out to another North Shore town in the end. “I took the film producer out to a subdivision, which has a cul-du-sac overlooking a wetland area, but they said Topsfield looked better,” he recalls. “I think they couldn’t arrange a deal with the developer in the timeframe they wanted.”

Talk of the Town

Middleton’s shopping, beauty, and dining hot spots.

Mason & Madison

Honored by the Retailer’s Association of Massachusetts as 2009 Rookie of the Year, this gift store features jewelry that is hand-crafted by local artisans, plus sweets and great items for kids. 2 Central St., 978-777-8883, masonandmadison.com.

Sol Bean Cafe

In an age where corporate coffee shops seem to pop up on every block, it’s refreshing to walk into Sol Bean Cafe and feel like you’ve stepped back in time. This local hangout will get you caffeinated quickly and feeling fine with great coffee, freshly squeezed juices, and healthy wraps. 119 S. Main St., 978-777-5900, solbeancafe.com.

Farmer Brown’s

Whether you’re here for the homemade soups, the salad bar, deli meats, or even some local wildflower honey, this local alternative to the super-sized grocery store has remained a secret with Middleton residents for years. 210 Maple St., 978-774-7110, farmerbrownsfarmstand.com.

Vero Salon and Spa

Step inside this warm and soothing salon and you are immediately transported to another world, where being waited on hand and foot (and head) is quite literally the modus operandi. One Central St., 978-750-4004, verosalonspa.com.

BodyCo

Forget what every gym tells you-personal and group training is the only way you’re going to be motivated to get fit. That’s the mantra at BodyCo, where you can go one-on-one with a personal trainer or join group classes and push each other. 108 South Main St., 978-777-7741, bodycofit.com.

Richardson’s Ice Cream

Even in the middle of winter, you’ll find devoted fans lining up for one of their 57 ice cream options, including Death By Chocolate or Coffee Kahlua Brownie. Work it off by pounding a bucket of balls at the driving range or hit the batting cages. 156 South Main St., 978-774-5450, richardsonsicecream.com.

Hobs Board Shop

Kids, plus a growing number of aging hipsters, come for the great selection of skateboards and accessories, while water freaks get jazzed about the wakeboarding gear. 100 South Main St., 866-980-8389, hobsboardshop.com.

Middleton Golf Course

So you’re in the mood for a round of golf, but you don’t want to waste an entire afternoon? This 18-hole, par-three course is the perfect solution. Lessons and leagues are offered all season long. 105 South Main St., 978-774-4075,

middletongolf.com.

–By Jack Morris, Photographs By Robert Boyd