ROCKPORT-CAMDEN — Late Saturday afternoon, Feb. 27, town officials from Camden and Rockport gathered briefly at the Arch on Union Street, the edifice that separates the two towns, which once were one. The intention was to have a friendly snow ball fight, repeating a tradition that used to take place many years ago between the boys who attended Rockport High School and the boys who attended Camden High School.

But there was no snow.

Instead, Union Street was closed to traffic for approximately 10 minutes, while the select boards took a rope and had a tug of war. Rockport won, but Camden was down three selectmen.

It didn’t matter. The goal was to round out a three-day celebration marking Rockport’s 125 years as its own town. Everyone had a good time, a plant was given to Camden by Rockport, with instructions to water it. And then, Rockport gave Camden a six-pack of PBRs tall boys.

Earlier in the day, the fourth graders at Camden-Rockport Elementary School reprised the famous play “My Home by the Sea,” written and directed by teacher Scott Dyer. The gym at CRES filled with parents, children and community members, who laughed and sang along with the thespians. 

The play was professionally filmed by Geoff Parker and Chromunique Audio-Visual, and will be available to see soon. Stay tuned. Other videos from the Rockport Celebration and the Fireside Chat with Rockport Elders are available now by clicking here: https://livestream.com/Rockportmaine

Outside, Tim Pierce, famous ice carver from the Samoset Resort, made a beautiful carving of Andre the Seal. It remains at the school, so the children will see it Monday morning.