As business owners, we have 211 years of collective experience and service to the Camden community. It's been an honor to watch generations of families grow up and visit our unique town. Just like our businesses, the waterfall and millpond at the heart of Camden were built by local hands from local materials. It was designed to integrate seamlessly into Camden Harbor and Park. They are a community resource for people of all ages and incomes to enjoy. This is why we support its preservation.

Camden’s vitality and the preservation of our cherished heritage are at a crossroads. The Montgomery Dam is more than stone and water—it’s a living monument to our history, and the source of the iconic waterfall that flows with power and grace into Camden Harbor. This breathtaking sight, captured in countless photographs and memories, draws visitors from around the world and fuels the economic engine of our downtown.

For over two centuries, local businesses have flourished alongside this natural and historic landmark. Together, they’ve built 211 years of combined success, supporting the livelihoods of countless families. But the proposed removal of the dam—without a clear, well-planned design or timeline—threatens to upend that legacy. Years of disruption could leave businesses and their employees struggling to survive.

This isn’t just about preserving a dam. It’s about protecting the people who depend on it—the shop owners, workers, and families who call Camden home. We’ve weathered many storms together, but this decision could reshape our town forever.

Please, stand with Camden. Stand with our history, our beauty, and our community.

Vote NO on Question 7. Save Montgomery Dam—save the soul of Camden.

Meg Quijano, Bernice Berger, Arthur Kirklian and Tom Rothwell