BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 20, 2025
When Eli Towne was the first permanent settler in Dover in 1803, the Piscataquis River flowed freely through town. Now, more than 220 years later, the river is set to flow freely again. That emotional connection to the dam is partly what motivated voters to keep the dam in a 2024 vote in a 557-441 decision. But a year later, those same voters denied the needed $9 million in retention and repairs in a 659-297 vote. The recent vote means it is now slated for removal in the coming years. Locals also hope the decision will bring an end to a debate that has divided public opinion.