My husband and I visited the Maine Artists Wood Gallery on Route 2 just beyond Lloyd’s farm stand – in East Rumford? – one day last week. It’s a veritable garden of (wooden) delights, located in the homely, one-story building that once housed a Mammoth Mart, later a Bass Shoe factory outlet, and still later, Thurston’s mill. In addition to the Wood Gallery, the building is home to Premium Logs, Premium Specialty Hardwood, and Maine Made Furniture. Owner Clinton Bradbury has still other enterprises including a saw mill in Canada.

The exterior of the building has been upgraded with a new entrance, some landscaping, and, best of all, a wonderful group of wood sculptures by Don Walker: a larger-than-life momma bear, fish in paw, and smaller-than-life cubs trying for their own fish. Makes you smile.

Inside the huge space is a whole lot of wood furnishings and objects, all crafted by Maine woodworkers. Salesperson Karen Warren greeted us, and when I explained my mission she called for help. Brian Phelps, director of marketing, and Kathy Hebert, sales and office Manager, were glad to talk with us.

Kathy and Brian have the upbeat, energetic air of people who love their work. Brian feels good to be in a business that employs Maine people and uses Maine wood. Kathy was the first girl ever to take wood-working class in her Pennsylvania high school. “I’ve been in wood ever since.” Brian comes from a long line of woodworkers (including his cousin Larry LaPerle).

Kathy and Brian are wood worshippers. And Kathy can spot others. “You can tell the difference between someone who is just furniture shopping and someone who loves wood.” Wood lovers have to touch it.

On our quick tour behind the scenes, we saw a gorgeous curly maple 10-foot mantel destined for a fancy house in Newry. Like most Maine Made products, the mantel was the work Gary Gallan. “Awesome,” as Kathy said.

Next the work of 83-year-old visual artist – he draws with a wood-burner – Ed Chadbourne of Sabbatus. (See his work at the Gallery’s booth at Fryeburg Fair)

Bradbury moved into the former mill in the spring of 2005 and opened the Wood Gallery on Dec. 2. The businesses are prospering. Specialty hardwood is sold for Lexus steering wheels. And Premium ships curly and birdseye maple to China and Japan. Most Gallery furniture sold, 85 percent, is custom built. But the couple who fell in love with the bar stools they saw had four of them shipped to Italy.

Bradbury was not in the shop or gallery when we visited last week. But I came away feeling I’d gotten to know him a little. He cares about kids: Every Tuesday and Friday morning, nine students from Mt. Valley High’s Life Skills class come to the gallery and shop to work and learn. He is moving all his business offices from Dixfield to the Route 2 Rumford site, except Dixfield Discount Fuel. Why? Kathy explained: many customers walk in to order and pay for their heating oil and Clint Bradbury doesn’t want to make them change.

I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he too is a worshipper of wood.

Linda Farr Macgregor lives with her husband, Jim, in Rumford. She is a freelance writer and author of “Rumford Stories.”