Save Curtis Pond!

Maple Corner is a small village in Calais, nestled in the heart of Vermont, just 10 miles from the state capital. The hearty folks of Calais know the true meaning of Community and mutual aid. When the Community Center needed a new septic system, dozens of men in town volunteered to bare it all in the infamous 2002 & 2003 Men of Maple Corner Calendars. When the local Maple Corner Store & Whammy Bar was for sale for years and was at risk of being lost, 200 villagers pooled their resources and bought it, turning it into a community-owned Maple Corner Community Store and Whammy Bar.

Now, the Curtis Pond Dam is in jeopardy, and if it fails, Calais will lose Curtis Pond forever. No more curling matches, pond hockey, swim lessons, or Island campouts. No more full moon paddles, or foggy early morning skinny dips. This picturesque pond with its historic dam could be lost to future generations. But we can not let that happen.

The Dam has been listed as being in Poor Condition for over 20 years, and several community groups have attempted to fix it over the decades. This latest effort, spearheaded by the Curtis Pond Association, is within a stone's throw of success! The repair of the dam will cost $700,000. We are dedicated to raising $250,000 in private donations, have received $100,000 in Federal ARPA Funds, and on March 7th, 2023, Calais Residents will vote on a bond to cover the remaining construction costs. While the Bond Article authorizes up to a $450,000 bond, we anticipate the final number to be about $350,000.

With the generous support of friends and neighbors of the pond, we have raised $220,000 towards our goal of $250,000 in private donations. What an amazing lift! We're now turning beyond our own, once again to the broader world, to help bring us home and raise the last $30,000 we need to complete this project. Can you spare a few dollars to help our iconic village once again save a local treasure for the benefit of future generations?

Please take a few minutes to watch the above video by dreamlikepictures.com. It will transport you to Curtis Pond and help you realize the importance of saving this Vermont treasure! If you're in the area, stop in and see the beauty of the pond for yourself, and be sure to swing by the Maple Corner Community Store to say hi!

We've partnered with the Maple Corner Community Center in this fundraising campaign, so all donations are tax-deductible. If you'd like to avoid the Credit Card processing fees, you can mail a check! Please make checks payable to Maple Corner Community Center (MCCC) with "DAM" in the subject line. Checks can be mailed to Curtis Pond Association, PO Box 162, Calais VT 05648