Calvin and Marjorie Dodge pose with an award for outstanding community service in their Damariscotta home Thursday, June 15. (Jessica Picard photo)
Calvin and Marjorie Dodge, of Damariscotta, were given two honors Wednesday, June 13 at Damariscotta’s annual town meeting: one planned, one a surprise.
At the beginning of the meeting, Damariscotta Town Manager Matt Lutkus announced that the annual report had been dedicated to the Dodges.
Lutkus had previously shown the inscription in the front pages of the reports to the couple, wanting them to be aware of it before they received their copies.
The larger surprise came afterward, when Damariscotta Board of Selectmen Chair Robin Mayer also presented the Dodges with this year’s Spirit of America Award, which honors outstanding community service.
“They have a rich history here in town,” Mayer said of the Dodges.
Calvin Dodge grew up in Newcastle, while Marjorie grew up in Damariscotta, on Round Top Farm, where her father was head dairy herdsman.
Both attended Lincoln Academy. They met at the Damariscotta Baptist Church, where they were married Sept. 3, 1961.
The couple has lived in Damariscotta ever since.
“It’s a very nice community,” Calvin Dodge said. “Damariscotta’s a beautiful town.”
Marjorie Dodge worked at her family’s auction and antique shop, Cooper’s Red Barn Antiques, and she took over the business with Calvin when he retired from Bath Iron Works. The business turned 75 years old this year, according to Calvin Dodge.
Calvin Dodge served on the Damariscotta Board of Selectmen from 1968-1974 and has also served on the budget committee, planning board, and board of appeals.
Marjorie was a leader for the local Cub Scout troop in the 1970s and is well-known for her knitting talent, which she sometimes uses to knit baby afghans for the local hospital.
The couple helped found the Damariscotta Historical Society, and they co-author the “Damariscotta History” column for The Lincoln County News. In eight years, they have written almost 500 columns.
Some of the Dodges’ photos were used in Margaret Shiels Konitzky’s book “Midcoast Maine in World War II.”
The Dodges have one son, Robert, who lives in East Hartford, Conn.
Calvin Dodge received the Alumnus of the Year Award from Lincoln Academy in 2016 and a plaque for “outstanding contribution of time and talent” in December from the Alna-Anchor Lodge #43. He has been a Mason for 57 years.
This new recognition and award given by the town of Damariscotta was a complete surprise to the Dodges.
“We were very surprised and very honored,” Calvin Dodge said.
“It was kind of a shock, but I was pleased,” Marjorie Dodge said of the award.
“We were very, very honored … to be thought that much of in our community and by the selectmen,” Calvin Dodge said.
“They’ve been very active in the Damariscotta area for many years,” Selectman Lou Abbotoni said of the board’s decision. “We thought it was time to recognize them.”
