NAPLES — It was the summer of 1977, when Fremont and Norma Merriam packed their belongings and loaded their seven children in a van to move from York to Naples. Summer vacations on the lake beckoned them to a lifestyle surrounded by water.

Fremont was a builder and engineer, who came to Naples to expand his franchise of Vermont Log Homes, where he established the business “Merriam & Sons.” He dreamed that one day he would be able to work with his five boys in the business he started. Quickly, he became the premier builder in the Lake Region, and rapid growth of his business created a demand for hardware. With nothing around in the late 70s, he opened his own hardware store near the Naples Causeway.

Many of his customers on the lake asked him to build docks. In the late 70s, Maine only permitted temporary seasonal docks. Most of what you saw back then was homemade timbers with rocks piled up on them. There just was no good seasonal dock system at the time suited for the rough waters of Sebago and Long Lakes.

So, Fremont designed his own dock system, and out of the side of the hardware store in a two-bay garage that served his construction business, he hired a welder and set to work building dock hardware. In 1979, he opened Outdoor Living Products, which built docks, sheds and Adirondack-style furniture.

As years turned to decades, the economy dipped, the building market stalled, and everything slowed except for the dock business. So, in 1985, Freemont changed the sign over the door to “Great Northern Docks.” By this time, builders were flocking from around Maine to buy his hardware and flotation. Most of his children took turns working in the family business, but eventually left to pursue dreams in far-away lands like California and Florida. Fremont wondered if he would ever realize his dream of working with his children.

Fremont continued inventing improvements to the components he used, and in 1992, he was awarded a patent on the environmentally-responsible Drag-On Float. It is a rotationally molded polyethylene float, which accommodates skids and floats without the environmental mess of polystyrene. Skids reduce the impact of docks on tidal shores and eventually became an army corps standard. Drag-On Floats are made to be recycled, but later proved so tough that they would outlive the wooden docks, which rested upon them.

As a Saint Patrick’s Day surprise in 2019, Great Northern Docks was contacted by a beach comber in White Strand, Ireland. Apparently, a Great Northern Docks Drag-On Float had outlasted its dock and made the voyage all the way across the Atlantic Ocean.

Drag-On Floats are so popular and so long lasting that they frequently make their way onto second generation docks.

Speaking of second generations…In 1994, Sam Merriam, Fremont’s third son moved back from South Carolina to work in the family business so Fremont could work his way into retirement. Sam went on the road with Fremont’s inventions and built a dealer network around New England, further branding the name which had become synonymous for quality.

In 2002, Fremont struggled with heath issues, which forced him to accelerate his retirement.

At this time, two more sons, Seth and Steve, returned from California to join Sam and help fill the shoes of their father.

Seth was a graphic artist, and part-time dock installer. Steve was an engineer. All of them grew up around docks with the Lake Region as their playground. Collectively, the three brothers decided to give their best shot at working together both as a family and as co-laborers in making a great business greater.

Over the last 15 years, the three Merriam brothers have transformed the company to use more low-maintenance aluminum and composite materials while maintaining the same reputation for quality that their father built the business on.

When asked what contributed to their success, Steve answered, “We believe in the old-fashion value system. We treat our customers as if they are our family, friends, or neighbors, and we put their interests first. Guarantees don’t mean a thing in this age if a company can’t stay in business to back the product it sells. We make this stuff here so we can make sure it’s the best, and we can deliver the best value. We test our products like our kids are going to walk on it. Of course, we guarantee our products. But you don’t go 40 years unless your products stand up. We answer the phone all year, no daytime recordings. Our staff is trained to solve the toughest waterfront challenges, not to shove the same canned dock system into each situation. That’s how we treat our friends, and our customers are no different.”

This spring marks a 40-year milestone for Great Northern Docks (GND), but they are just getting started. GND is now wrapping up a five-year project with the University of Maine — a mile-long floating boardwalk in the Orono Bog.

“We love the waterfront, but we love all aspects of nature, and we love helping people connect with it. Pictured is a rendering of the 60-foot modular bridge we will be installing in the Katahdin region in a few weeks. It’s over a mile deep into the woods, so it will be hand carried in 10 segments and assembled over the stream,” Steve noted.

What people of the Lake Region probably don’t know about Great Northern Docks is that they are shipping large systems all over North America, all year long. They ship from Canada to the Caribbean to California and everywhere in between.

Sam also has a book releasing in June on How to Build a Dock, published by Fox Chapel Publishing. Look for it near the checkout of the DIY box stores or on Amazon.

Lately, GND is focusing on making things even more modular and easier for installers to put together.

“There is a shortage of install help now and anything we can do to make the work go faster will help. You may have noticed our modular plastic docks on the Causeway in Naples. You may have seen our modular stair system in public beaches in Cape Elizabeth, Wells and Lubec. These systems are shipping all over, and we are proud that they are coming from the talented people of the Lake Region,” Steve said.

How does Great Northern Docks handle year over year growth?

“We automated some things, but mostly we grow with in-house training, replicating the great work we do. We have expanded here and there, but we ran into a snag recently. Part of our land behind our factory was inadvertently re-zoned to residential during the causeway revitalization project which replaced the old turn-bridge,” Steve added. “The Naples Board of Selectmen recently unanimously voted to reverse that, and it must now go before a public vote on April 30 at 6 p.m. It was our dad’s dream that one day we would grow and expand up that hill, and at 81 years of age, we hope he gets to see it.”

It takes a huge commitment of resources and space to make it all. These products bring revenue into the Lake Region all year. The inventory Great Northern Docks builds is essential for hundreds of contractors in New England to do their job.

“With the help of the people of Naples, we hope to be allowed to continue our growth right here in the home of the Songo River Queen. Which by the way, Fremont built and his sons designed back in 1982,” he noted.

Great Northern Docks is now under the direction of Sam Merriam, celebrating 40 years as a Naples-based manufacturer, and a proud supporter of the people and the lakes that make this region great!

To celebrate 40 years in business, Great Northern Docks will hold a special anniversary event on Friday, May 31. There will be food, giveaways, specials and live demonstrations. Stay tuned for more information.