Why "Dam" Good?
One of the questions we get asked most often when meeting new customers is: “Why Dam without an ‘n’?” Well, our brand name actually has a few different meanings:
- It’s a reference to the New Croton Dam in Cortlandt, NY, near where we got out start, pictured below:
Denise & Olivia Weale (mother-daughter co-founders) standing in front of the New Croton Dam.
- States our mission to make Dam Good® tasting English muffins
- Affirms our commitment to “Do Dam Good®” by supporting our community, creating opportunities through Open Hiring, and making food you can trust
As we continue to grow our footprint beyond the Hudson Valley, NY, region where the New Croton Dam is a familiar landmark, we wanted to share a little bit of its rich history — especially for those who may have never heard of it before!
A Brief History of the New Croton Dam
Construction on the New Croton Dam began in 1892 and took 14 years to complete, finally wrapping up in 1906. Built brick by brick, entirely by hand, it was the largest masonry dam in the world at the time — stretching more than 2,000 feet across the Croton River and rising nearly 300 feet high.
Fun fact: "It is said to be the third largest hand-hewn structure in the world after the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Wall of China."
Photo from: Hudsonriver.com
The New Croton Dam was designed to expand New York City’s water supply by creating the New Croton Reservoir, which can hold up to 19 billion gallons of water. More than a century later, the Croton system is still part of NYC’s drinking water network, helping to keep millions of taps running.
These days, the New Croton Dam is also a landmark destination for Hudson Valley, NY locals and visitors alike. People come to walk or hike along the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, picnic, and take in the stunning scenery of the Dam and its waterfall. Personally, I have fond childhood memories of sledding at the Dam during snowstorms — and these days, I love riding my bike across it and down the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail. It’s an incredibly unique spot that blends history, engineering, and natural beauty right here in our own backyard!
And for us, it’s also symbolic: the New Croton Dam was built brick by brick, by hand — the same way we’re building Dam Good® English Muffins, with care, dedication, and the hard work of real people, one English muffin at a time.
What The New Croton Dam Means To Us
The New Croton Dam represents strength, resilience, and longevity — values we carry into our brand and bakery every day. Our sourdough English muffins are made with pure, simple ingredients throughout a slow 3-day fermentation process that takes time but yields something worth waiting for. Just like the New Croton Dam!
To us, the Dam also means home. It’s where we got our start, and as our English muffins make their way into new states and stores, we get to share the history of the Dam with people far beyond the Hudson Valley — keeping a piece of our home at the heart of our growing brand.
Further, when we launched Dam Good® English Muffins, we wanted a name that honored where we come from, reflected the quality of what we make, and reminded us of our responsibility to our community. That’s why “Dam Good” is about more than just taste — it’s about “Doing Dam Good.”
- Olivia, co-founder
Our Products:
“New Croton Dam.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Croton_Dam
“New Croton Dam (a.k.a. Cornell Dam).” Croton Aqueduct Field Notes. https://crotonaqueduct.wordpress.com/field-notes/individual-structures/new-croton-dam-a-k-a-cornell-dam/
“New Croton Reservoir.” NYC Department of Environmental Protection. https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/water/new-croton-reservoir.page
“Croton Gorge Park.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croton_Gorge_Park
“Croton Water Supply System.” ASCE Metropolitan Section. https://www.ascemetsection.org/committees/history-and-heritage/landmarks/croton-water-supply
“Building the New Croton Dam.” Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. https://www.hudsonriver.com/hhrt/event/building-the-new-croton-dam/