THE POTOMAC FLYER A Publication of the Potomac Decoy Collectors Association

ISSUE # 101 SEPTEMBER 2008

Hi All, and welcome back from what I hope was a developed some new systems to make our treasury relaxing and enjoyable summer! There were several even more efficient! memorable auctions and shows these past few months, and I hope everyone was able to catch up with old Another change, the kind that’s most difficult to friends and add something special to their collection. accept, was the passing of founding member Ralph With the warm weather soon to be a distant memory Campbell. He was a great man and a great friend to so and the crisp air of fall right around the corner, we’re many of us in the club, and our thoughts and hearts about to hit another string of decoy shows, festivals continue to be with Barbara. To keep Ralph’s memory and auctions. So if you didn’t find anything to put on alive and to celebrate the qualities that made him such the shelf this summer, you’ll have plenty of a wonderful part of the decoy collecting community, I opportunities to do so soon enough. am proud to announce that beginning next year, the PDCA will bestow an annual award in his name. The And so we begin another year for the Potomac Decoy Ralph Campbell Memorial Award for Goodwill and Collectors Association. 2008 has certainly been a year Ambassadorship in the Decoy Collecting Community of great change for our club. After 11 years at the will recognize people who share Ralph’s passion for helm, founding president Tom East decided the time our hobby, his willingness to share all he knew about was right to hand things over to someone else. Tom decoys and their history, and his humor and kindness. had a vision for the kind of club he knew we could be. He was the best kind of ambassador for our club and He brought us together, just a handful of folks at first, for decoy collecting in general. Our club will be proud and slowly but surely, he helped us grow into what we to honor those who share Ralph’s best traits with a are today – truly one of the largest and most active plaque and a financial contribution made in their name decoy collecting clubs in the country. Every member to the decoy museum or institution of their choice. can be proud of what we’ve done and what we PDCA members will be invited to nominate the person continue to do in terms of scholarship, promoting or persons that they feel deserve this unique honor. ethics, supporting museums, and so many other Look for more information on this in a future things, and we have Tom to thank for getting it all newsletter. started. I had the pleasure of presenting Tom with a plaque at our June meeting, recognizing his service, his As they say, the more things change, the more they leadership and his friendship on behalf of a grateful stay the same. And despite these changes, all the club. I now have the honor of following in his wonderful things that make PDCA such a great club— footsteps, and I’m delighted that he will remain an the fellowship and camaraderie at our monthly active leader as our club’s president emeritus. Thank meetings, the displays of wonderful birds, our passion you again Tom! And many, many thanks to Bonnie for for decoy scholarship, our support of decoy shows and all the support and behind the scenes help that she has museums, the annual red tag sales, the annual holiday given to you and to our club over the years! parties and auctions, just to name a few—all of that is going to stay exactly the same. What would be great is After an equally lengthy tenure as club treasurer, Tuck to add to and expand on those things. A club Web site Brant also decided it was the right time to hand his would be a great way to enhance our communication duties over to someone new. We always thought there and visibility, both between members and with the was a coincidence between Tuck’s dues notices and general public. And we’ve been talking for many those trips he took to Bermuda… but in all seriousness, years about hosting a decoy show in the Washington, he performed a task vital to our club ably and tirelessly DC/northern Virginia area. For years, the club and and for that we are all very grateful. We must also club members have set up at and supported area acknowledge the support and contributions of Tuck’s shows and tailgates, but even if it’s small at first, it wife, Barbara, who I know was often the one on the would great to have something all our own, and other end of those e-mails. I’m delighted that long- something a little closer to home. time member Chris Worch has stepped in as our new (Continued, next Page) treasurer, and I’m impressed that he’s already

The Potomac Flyer Published monthly, except July, August and December. Editor/Publisher: Donald F. Lane, 7013 Quander Road, Alexandria, VA 22307, (703) 660-6334, Email: [email protected]. Comments welcome. (Welcome Back)…Our newsletter, which continues to volunteers are needed. We were excited about the inform, educate, enrich and amuse the membership, is contributions George Cole was beginning to make as another thing that’s going to remain as strong as ever. club secretary, but sadly for us all, circumstances Recently, quietly and without any fanfare, our club necessitated his return to Colorado. So, we are still passed what I consider to be another major milestone – seeking a club secretary. We would also benefit from a the 100th issue of The Potomac Flyer. I was reminded membership chairman, a publicity chairman, a holiday of how good I felt when we added our 100th member to party coordinator and chairman, an exhibit our club. Our newsletter has come so far from that coordinator and museum relations chairman, a website first, thin issue I put together after our inaugural developer and PDCA web master, and again, field meeting. It was vastly improved during the years that reporters and contributors to the newsletter. This is Jim Trimble served as editor, and it has reached still your club and it needs your leadership and greater heights under the publishing prowess of Don involvement. If you have even a little time to help, Lane. I don’t know how he does it, but each issue when combined with the work of others, it will go a seems to get better and better. If you feel similarly or very long way. Please let me know if you are able to if you would like to contribute a news item or short get more involved. article, I know Don would love to hear from you. Let me close this welcome back message with a simple I’m delighted that we continue to have the support of invitation. If you’ve never been to a club meeting long-time member Jim Trimble, who has been officially before or haven’t been to a meeting in a while, come. I named PDCA’s member-at-large, and Larry Myers, guarantee you’ll have a great time! who continues to serve as our display and competition chairman (AKA: The Duckmeister). But despite this All the best! support and the work of our club leaders, many more Chad

By Barry Serafin

To collectors of wooden birds, July was like Christmas more formal tone. His catalog alone is very classy. -- 3 major decoy auctions, all within one week, all Like his initial auction a year ago, day one was within relatively easy driving distance of each other. devoted to etchings, paintings and other sporting art by the likes of Benson, Hunt and Pleissner. Day two The first this summer was Ted and Judy Harmon's offered about 300 decoys. The highest price went for a Decoys Unlimited auction on scenic Cape Cod, Mass. gorgeous, like-size The Cape Codder Resort provided a casual, friendly standing black duck setting and the Harmons were genial hosts. In both (below) by Crowell sheer numbers (several hundred birds) and sales (just estimated at $80,000 to under 2.5 million dollars) theirs was the largest of the $120,000. The bird, summer auctions. The stellar offering was a feeding found by the consignor willet attributed to John Thomas Wilson. Despite a at an estate sale, sold to a few repairs, it was a spectacular shorebird estimated at Cape Cod collector for $75,000 to $125,000. It sold for $220,000 (buyer's $209,000! Some other premium included in all amounts cited here). But the major birds hit estimate, backbone of the auction was a strong group of Masons, but just barely. Among many of which came from the Howard Waddell them: a strong pair of Tax geese for $103,500 and a collection. For example, a fine Mason plover, estimated matched pair of Lincoln geese for $69,000. A Crowell at $14,000 to 18,000 went for $74,750! A handsome pair "dust jacket" plover also sold for $69,000. That was $11, of John English mallards failed to hit a high reserve, 000 below low estimate. Overall, decoy sales totaled but sold privately after the auction to a New Jersey about 1.6 million dollars, with the previous day's art collector. The most unusual lot -- 11 George Boyd sales bringing in another 1.6 million. yellowlegs found in a house just a few miles away -- sold well over estimate for $143,000. In both auctions, top tier birds found deep-pockets buyers with no problem. But prices seemed to have A number of PDCA members were on hand, including softened a little for good and, in some cases, even very Chad Tragakis, Dave Fannon, Rod Benjamin, Dick good birds. Was it the economy or just some reality Gove, John Collier, John Clayton and Bill Doggert and creeping into the red hot decoy market? Was it just a I. Almost every one managed to take home a good blip or was it a trend that will stick around for awhile? bird at a good price. The answer will come in upcoming auctions. Those still looking didn't have to look far. As soon as For those who traveled to Massachusetts, the two sales the Harmon auction ended, Steve O'Brien's Copley were great fun - a chance to see, handle and, with luck, Art auction got underway just half an hour away in take home some nifty birds and, as always, a chance to Plymouth, Mass. By design, O’Brien’s auction has a enjoy time with old friends. 2 In a third of the series of waterfowl auctions in New England, Guyette & Schmidt’s July 26 and 27 show proved to be a solid event for the firm, grossing over $1.6 million. The show featured decoys from the collections of Joe French, Gene and Linda Kangas, Howard and Jean Wadell, J. Creighton Reipe, Jr., and Dave Galliher.

Overall, the sale lacked the big dollar decoys often associated with Guyette & Schmidt, but there were several highlights during this sale. Prices for New England and Mason Factory Decoys were particularly strong as they were at the Cape Cod Sale. For instance one of the first lots sold was a selection Mason decoys which hammered down well above its estimate at $19,350. Another Mason, an early twentieth Canada goose, went for $18,400. The top lot was an old squaw drake (right) by Joseph Lincoln with a presale estimate of $100/125,000 crossed the auction block for $137,000. It had been described as “having more detail in the paint and a more stylized presence than other Lincolns.” Three other Lincolns did well with a sleek and styled old squaw hen excellent original paint selling at $69,000. A pintail drake hammered at $26,450 and a classic Lincoln-styled Canada Goose went out at $20,700.

Shang Wheeler decoys, along with many of the Strafford area carvers had reached plateau during the past several auctions; however, at this auction, there was a renewed interest in Wheeler’s birds. Leading the way was a rare black duck in a sleeping pose that had been presented by the carver to George Johnson of Buffalo, NY in appreciation for having attending a hunting at Johnson’s club. The decoy had descended in the Johnson family and was consigned by Johnson’s son. It sold for $63,250 to South Carolina dealer Dick McIntyre. McIntyre also purchased a pair of Shang wood ducks in original paint for $34,500. Elmer Crowell’s decorative carvings did well with a life-sized common snipe, on a wooden base with Crowell’s oval brand brought $32,775 while a full sized black-bellied plover on a base carrying Elmer’s stamp, signature and the date 1942, passed across the auction table at $29,900. Maine and New Hampshire decoys also fared well, with a Gus Wilson merganser with rawhide "seaweed" in its bill exceeding estimates. In excellent dry original paint, the Maine carved decoy sold after active bidding at $19,550. An unusual mallard decoy by Wilson, made to resemble a bird in flight with extended wings, was sold at $14,375. New Hampshire carver George Boyd's classic merganser exhibited what Guyette & Schmidt cataloged as "fine form with detailed feather paint on the breast." Listing a provenance of Dale and Gary Guyette and later the collection of Phil Denormandie, the decoy went out between estimates at $17,825.

(Adapted from a story in Antiques and the Arts Online, dated August 19, 2008, entitled: $1.6 Million Decoy Auction for Guyette & Schmidt, written by David S. Smith. For more detail on this auction Guyette & Schmidt will have the prices realized on this sale posted on their web site in the near future). Thanks to Jim Trimble.

JUNE MEETEING AND RED TAG SALE

The well attended June meeting, held June 17th at the Paradiso Italiano Ristorante featured the PDCA’s annual Red Tag Sale, great camaraderie and the normal, well intended banter and conversation. The members there actually bought, or sold, a few tagged decoys, all for a realistic and reasonable price for such quality decoys. Not anticipated at the time was the departure of our acting club secretary, George Cole, whose great knowledge and writing ability has so enriched our meeting as well as the pages of the Potomac Flyer. Because of George’s departure, we are unable at this time to announce the annual competition winners in this edition of the newsletter. We will do so in the near future. We appreciate your patience and understanding. The theme bird for the September meeting is Charlie Bryan Decoys, any bird, any pose, any condition.

3 . jocko

By Don Lane

If you’ve traveled anywhere in the Potomac Region, men, neatly painted in groomsman clothing, or you have seen them. They stand in the front yards of dressed as jockeys, where black men seemed to excel. many old estates, in antique shops and in collections Most were cast from iron and they stood in several throughout this region and now the world. They are positions, including that of a raised arm and hand often grotesque in their stature, their paint faded and which could be used as a hitching post. worn, their exposed iron rusting. They are at the same time cherished as an American art form and despised It is ironic that the statue of as a declared symbol of slavery. These figures, Jocko, commissioned and commonly called “Lawn Jockeys”, appear to have made popular by slave originated along the banks of the Potomac. owning George Washington, would eventually become a The most accepted story as to the origins of the Lawn beacon for freedom for Jockey comes from the story of George Washington’s runaway slaves. A former crossing of the Delaware during the Revolution. It slave, Harriet Tubman, from seems that when Washington prepared to launch his our own Eastern Shore, attack against the Red Coat and Hessian encampment would make good use of at Trenton, several black men - slaves and free men – these sculptures as she joined the group. Included in this group was a young helped escaping slaves find 12 year old black man named Joque Graves who along freedom in the North or in with his father, Tom, wanted to fight, but Washington Canada. thought he was too young. Joque had been working for as a groomsman so the General asked the boy to With spies and bounty hunters everywhere, even safe hold his horse, and to hold a lantern for the troops as houses were not always safe. It became necessary to be they crossed the river. After the battle, and after able to convey, in a low-key fashion, what condition Washington came back across the Delaware, he found any Underground Railroad stop was at any given time. the boy still there, but he had frozen to death during The answer was the lawn jockey, painted to wear a red the night as did the horse whose reins he still held. cap. If a house was safe and prepared to receive The lantern was still ablaze. visitors, a lantern or an American flag would be placed in the forward reaching hand. If the house was being When George Washington realized the supreme scrutinized or had been compromised, the lantern or sacrifice by this little Negro boy, who he had dubbed flag would be removed and the travelers would seek “Jocko”, he was very touched. The story goes on to shelter from another house further down the road. say that when Washington told his officers about the boy, their hopes and valor returned almost as if by In more recent times, the black faced lawn jockey has magic. The enemy garrison at Trenton was defeated been treated by many African Americans with disdain with only four deaths. Two were shot and two froze to as a holdover symbol of slavery. Many jockeys were death. Jocko was counted as one of the latter. shattered, especially in urban areas; others repainted with white faces. As in may cases, this destruction of After the war, and when George Washington returned so many lawn jockeys, in spite of Jocko’s honorable to Mount Vernon, he ordered that two sculptures be heritage, by those who lack and understanding of the erected to commemorate the American victory. One of Black History Trail, has helped deprive our nation and these was a Dove of Peace in iron work that was added citizens of a deeper understanding of the lessons of to cupola as a weather vane and the second was a cast slavery and the history of those African Americans iron statue of Jocko, “The Faithful Groomsman,” to who have their roots in the slave era. Of the stand in honor of Jocko, holding a lantern, appearing remaining original statues, it is the original cast iron to be stepping bravely forward as if saying “I will.” statues that are now being sought by collectors world- This sculpture was set up on the lawn in front of the wide, and that may sell for sums exceeding $5.000. mansion. Even Whoopie Goldberg, who “knows,” as do many others -- including many other African Americans -- Popularity of the lawn jockey grew amongst the estates who cherish and enjoy Jocko’s Potomac River heritage of the Potomac, across the south, and yet later, to much collects these rapidly disappearing artifacts of of America, and as foundries molded them, they American History. appeared in a variety of forms. Most depicted black

If you meet an other decoy collector, why not invite him/her to join PDCA?

4 A Spokane Duck Tale

Some of you may know that my brother, Joel, is a loan officer at Sterling Bank. He works downtown in a second story office building, overlooking busy Riverside Avenue. Several weeks ago he watched a mother duck choose the cement awning outside his window as the uncanny place to build a nest above the sidewalk. The mallard laid nine eggs in a nest in the corner of the planter that is perched over 10 feet in the air. She dutifully kept the eggs warm for weeks and Monday afternoon all of her nine ducklings hatched.

Joel worried all night how the mamma duck was going to get those babies safely off their perch in a busy, downtown, urban environment to take to water, which typically happens in the first 48 hours of a duck hatching. Tuesday morning, Joel came to work and watched the mother duck encourage her babies to the edge of the perch with the intent to show them how to jump off!

The mother flew down below and started quacking to her babies above. In his disbelief Joel watched as the first fuzzy newborn toddled to the edge and astonishingly leapt into thin air, crashing onto the cement below. My brother couldn't watch how this might play out. He dashed out of his office and ran down the stairs the sidewalk where the first obedient duckling, in a stupor from the near fatal fall, was near its mother. Joel looked up. The second duckling was getting ready to jump! He quickly dodged under the awning while the Mother duck quacked at him and the babies above. As the second one took the plunge, Joel jumped forward and caught it with his bare hands before it hit the cement. Safe and sound, he set it by the mamma and the other stunned sibling, still recovering from its painful leap.

One by one the babies continued to jump to join their anxious family below. Each time Joel hid under the awning just to reach out in the nick of time as the duckling made its free fall. The downtown sidewalk came to a standstill. Time after time, Joel was able to catch the remaining 7 and set them by their approving mother.

5 At this point Joel realized the duck family had only made part of its dangerous journey. They had 2 full blocks to walk across traffic, crosswalks, curbs, and pedestrians to get to the closest open water, the Spokane River.

The on looking office secretaries then joined in, and hurriedly brought an empty copy paper box to collect the babies. They carefully corralled them, with the mother's approval, and loaded them up into the white cardboard container. Joel held the box low enough for the mom to see her brood. He then slowly navigated through the downtown streets toward the Spokane River, as the mother waddled behind and kept her babies in sight. As they reached the river, the mother took over and passed him, jumping into the river and quacking loudly. At the water's edge, the Sterling Bank office staff then tipped the box and helped shepherd the babies toward the water and to their mother after their adventurous ride. All nine darling ducklings safely made it into the water and paddled up snugly to mamma duck. Joel said the Mom swam in circles, looking back toward the beaming bank workers, and proudly quacking as if to say,“See, we did it! Thanks for all the help!”

Thankfully, one of the secretaries had a digital camera and was able to capture most of it (except the actual mid-air catching) in a series of photographs. Please join me in celebrating my brother-- The Downtown Duck Hero.

(This story was written in an email from Ms. Elisabeth Baldwin to Mr. Ray East, a collector and photographer who lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. Mr. East sent the story to Mr. Randy Futty, a PDCA member who, in turn, provided it to the Potomac Flyer)

How Many Ducks in a Bottle??

Bob and Bill go duck hunting. They settle down in their pit blind and wait for the ducks. This gets rapidly boring for Bill, so he reaches into his backpack and withdraws a pint of 100 proof Scotch.

"Want some,” he asks Bob. "No, I've got to concentrate on hunting ducks.” "Okay," Bill says and happily drains the bottle. They go back to watching for ducks. Again, Bill gets bored and gets from his backpack another bottle of Scotch. "Want some." he asks again. "No, thanks, I really don't drink," is Bob’s reply. "Your loss,” Bill said and happily drains the bottle. He's pretty sloshed by now, but goes back to help his friend watch for ducks.

A minute later, a single duck flies up. "Bang!!!" goes Bob's gun. "Darn, missed," says Bob. Bill waves his gun in the general direction of the sky. "Bang!!" His gun goes off. . He drops the duck out of the sky. "Wow," exclaims Bob, "how did you do that?" “Well," Bill replied, "When there's a whole flock, you can hardly miss, can you?”

6 Decoys and Gunning Traditions of the New Jersey Shore

Exhibit at Ward Museum

This exhibit showcases a wide range of decoy carvings When one thinks of New Jersey decoy carvers, H.V. from the state of New Jersey, where the wild celery Shourds, Rowley Horner, and Lloyd Parker come and eel grass growing in the brackish coastal waters immediately to mind. The exhibit contains a attract black ducks, bluebills, brant, and geese. Early substantial display of their work for view and study. New Jersey carvers developed the dugout style of Other significant carvers were chosen not only for the decoy, designed for use in the narrow-hulled quality of their work, but also to demonstrate the sneakboxes used by coastal gunners. Beginning on varying carving styles along the Jersey coast. The June 13th and running through November 30th, this journey begins with the Huff family of boat builders exhibit features this and other techniques as well as a from East Long Branch and continues to the Head of sampling of the state's shorebird forms. The exhibit the Bay school of carvers, including Taylor Johnson, showcases a wide range of decoy carvings from the John E. Loveland, John Dorsett and Eugene Birdsall. state of New Jersey, with 115 pieces garnered from 19 It continues to Barnegat with Capt. Jesse Birdsall and private collections. Most of the pieces date to circa then to Tuckerton with H.V. Shourds. The journey 1900, and all examples are in original paint and along the coast ends with Rhodes Truex and Lake condition; many have a depth of provenance that is Leeds of the Atlantic City area. The works of many unequaled. The generosity of many collectors has other carvers fill the gaps between each of these major allowed the museum to present this exhibition. areas.

Decoy styles vary among regions and always reflect In addition to gunning for ducks, geese and brant, the hunting conditions in which they were used. shorebird hunting played a major role in the gunning Almost all New Jersey decoys were hollow, light and traditions of New Jersey. Shorebirds were hunted for made of Jersey cedar. These dugout decoys represent the markets of Philadelphia and New York, for the the state's predominant decoy style. The technique was millinery trade and for sport. After the Civil War, developed by 1850 and remained largely unchanged America saw an increase in wealth in the major cities for a century. Dugout decoys have smooth, rounded of the north. Victorian gentlemen from Philadelphia bodies made of equal halves of cedar hollowed out and New York took up the rod and gun in earnest. with a gouge and laminated together. Their upright New railroads provided quick transportation to the pine heads almost invariably face straight forward, and gunning grounds, and hotels with guiding services the decoys were usually painted simply and sprang up to accommodate their interest and allow economically, with plumage patterns broadly outlined them to bring their families along. They came in the in solid colors. summer and early fall to enjoy the ocean breeze, fish and do a little snipe shooting; they returned in late fall and winter for waterfowling. This was the beginning The lightweight decoys were necessary for the rigs to of tourism for the Jersey shore, which still exists on a be carried on the traditional 12-foot Barnegat Bay smaller scale today. sneakbox, an example of which is presented in the exhibit. The shallow bays and creeks of New Jersey, The shorebirds, like the decoys in this exhibit, can be coupled with low sedge meadows and little backdrop traced down the coast from Long Branch to the tip of for concealment, greatly influenced the development of New Jersey at Cape May, offering a diversity of the craft. The sneakbox was easily sailed, rowed or species and carving styles to compare. The New towed to the gunning grounds, pulled up onto the Jersey coast drew a wide variety of shorebird species, meadow and covered with eel grass or meadow grass. including long-billed and Hudsonian curlews, black- Its low profile made a perfect blind for these bellied plovers, yellowlegs, red knots and ruddy conditions. After the New Jersey legislature banned turnstones. the sinkbox and prohibited offshore blinds, gunning Source: Adapted from a Ward Museum press release was allowed only in shore blinds or boats attached to dated June 9, 2008 and furnished by Jim Trimble. the shore. Ralph Campbell’s Decoys With the kind assistance of Tom East, Barbara Campbell is disposing of Ralph’s decoy collection. Some were generously given to Ralph’s closest friends as mementos . Others have been sold from the home with the balance being taken to Gary Guyette in St. Michaels, MD, for sale. Some are for sale at Guyette’s Retail Gallery while others will be offered at the November 12th and 13th auction at Easton, Maryland. Watch Guyette & Schmidt’s web site for more information about this auction.

7 THE BARNEGAT BAY SNEAKBOX by Orton G. Dale

Sneak boxes were introduced on Barnegat Bay in a few inches, and with board down they took less probably about ninety years ago. Their principal use than 2 feet. In winter when used for gunning, with the was for gunning and fishing. They were called Sneak bay partially frozen over, no boat surpasses them for Boxes because, due to their slight projection above efficiency and ease of handling. They are rowed in the water and easy lines, they could be quietly rowed or pushed up to the game. By covering it with meadow open water stretches, and hauled up on the frozen grass or branches the box was easily made into a good sections with long sharp boat hooks. Two battens along portable screen or blind. Quoting from "Four Months the bottom of the hull serve as runners when travelling in a Sneak Box " by Nathaniel H. Bishop, published in on the ice. These runners are often metal shod, so that 1879, we have given the origin of the Sneak Box: the boats are most successfully used for travelling on "With the assistance of Mr. William Erickson of the ice either under sail or by pushing with the pike Barnegat and Dr. poles. They were built in William P. Haywood of barns, backyards, and West Creek, Ocean even in bedrooms by County, New Jersey, I hundreds of fishermen have been able to rescue from oblivion and amateurs residing on and bring to the light of the coast of New Jersey day a correct history of from Cape May to Sandy the Barnegat sneak- Hook. Few of the boat box.” builders in the early days troubled themselves with building such small class boats. It is one of the Captain Hazelton Seaman of West Creek Village, New interesting phases of boat developments that the early Jersey, a boat builder and an expert shooter of wild- types, although built by men living 100 miles apart, fowl about the year 1836, conceived the idea of were so similar in design. The length was usually 12 to constructing for his own use a low-decked boat, or 14 feet and beam 4 feet, 6 inches to an extreme of 5 gunning punt, in which, when its deck was covered feet. The under bows were full, and the deck close to with sedge, he could secrete himself from the wild- the bow was flat. The greatest freeboard was about 7 fowl while gunning in Barnegat and Little Egg Harbor inches; the overhang of the bow about 1 foot; the stern bays. Mr. Seaman named the result of his first effort transoms flat and plumb. On the boats used around the "Devil's Coffin" the bay-men gave her the Barnegat Inlet the rudders were pintle hung, equipped sobriquet of "sneak-box" and this name she has with yokes and tiller lines. Sometimes instead of the retained to the present day." yokes and lines a long tiller was used.

The shallow water required that they draw but little (Source: Internet Article: “The Barnegat Bay Sneakbox – water. With the centreboard up, boxes could be sailed It’s Racing History,” Orton G. Dale, written ca. 1914).

PDCA Member Opens Duck Shop On the weekend of August 23d, several dedicated PDCA members gathered at Jeff Pelayo’s new Chesapeake Classic Duck Shop in Cambridge, Maryland, to help celebrate his shop’s grand opening. Jeff is a member of the Potomac Decoy Collectors Association, the East Coast Decoy Collectors Associations and the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum. As a long time collector of Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna Flats decoys, he is well respected throughout the decoy community. Jeff specializes in collecting old Canvasbacks, other rare species and miniature decoys by select carvers. Jeff offers collectors assistance in identifying carvers and appraisal services and he accepts consignments from those who wish to sell decoys. He is knowledgeable of the Chesapeake area’s waterfowling heritage. His shop offers a forum for buying, selling, trading and discussing these old wooden birds, and promises to become a favorite gathering place for those interested in collecting this form of American Folk Art. Contact Jeff at 410-228-6509 (shop); 410-362-2230 (cell); or at [email protected]. Jeff’s website is: http://www.oldwoodenduckdecoys.com. Thanks to Jim Trimble who suggested this article. 8 Barbara Campbell Presents Article about Harvey Pitt

Don Lane . A couple of weeks ago, while I was talking to Barbara The real story of Pitt’s decoys began when he died. It on the phone, she mentioned that she had found a had been on Harvey Pitt’s mind for a time, and one story among Ralph’s papers that might go well in our cold day between hunting seasons, Harvey Pitt looked newsletter. When I received the article, I could not skyward and faced the truth about those ducks. There determine its date of publication in the St. Lewis wouldn't be any ducks where he was going; he sure Dispatch. The article had been written by Tim Renkin, couldn't take them along when he died. Later, as Pitt who I learned, through my research, to be a fairly lay recovering in a Springfield hospital bed, watching prolific writer of hunting an electronic heart monitor confirm he was still alive, and hunting related the aging duck hunter realized the rules of material topics. The story he had possessions hadn't changed since 1927. That was the written for the Dispatch year he was born, which meant he had lived a full life focused on decoy already. But even before that near-fatal heart attack in collector and carver November 2000, Pitt long understood how life and Harvey Pitt (left) of Du death work. Quoin, Illinois. (I don’t know if Ralph knew Pitt, Nobody slips into the afterlife with souvenirs collected but since Ralph knew so on earth. Not even a truckload of antique waterfowl many other collectors, decoys. Pitt thought anxiously about those decoys - that may have been why the Ward Brothers, the Perdews, the prized Masons -- Ralph had the news every last, precious one of them. He envisioned how clipping which had be his cherished waterfowl collection would remain after copied and mailed to he died: treasures meticulously arranged on the very him). shelves where he'd left them, all going nowhere unless he did something about it. So Harvey Pitt had to make For those who don't recognize the Illinois a decision. Nobody would be around to inherit his waterfowler's name, Pitt was owner of one of the finest collection. "My wife Mickey and I have no heirs," the collections of antique decoys in North America. It all then 75-year-old waterfowler said, speaking in a began on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in 1960, when hoarse voice of acceptance. "When we're gone, that's Harvey was in the military service and when the art of it." wooden decoys was fading fast in the post-World War II age of plastic. When Pitt began saving decoys, he The value of the collection loomed over all had no intention of amassing a fortune. Yet it all began considerations. The sale of Pitt's decoys and related to add up. Pitt owned about 700 investment grade waterfowl collectibles would mean a significant, six- birds. figure inheritance to someone. So Pitt needed to make arrangements. He had to decide, finally, what he Pitt lived for duck hunting. His home was like a would do with his decoys. His choice was to donate living museum. Decoys hung from the beams and his collection, upon his death to his alma mater, filled shelves, platforms and cases everywhere. McKendree College, so the money realized could Furniture in the living room consisted of duck boats. benefit needy students of biology. One was a 1936 Thompson with a cedar-straked hull. It, too, was filled with decoys as well as a shot gun Harvey Pitt died in 2006, and his collection was used in the heyday of commercial hunting. For Pitt, transferred to the college where it was broken up and duck hunting was an art form, and his decoys were but sold. Gary Guyette is credited for stating that the Pitt expressions of his love of nature and hunting. endowment could be worth millions. While I have been unable to determine the final amount of his But to get down to business, the collection was worth a endowment, I have learned that many students, lot of money, simple as that. It's "a substantial" figure, regardless of race or background, are benefitting from as Pitt described it. Inevitably, anyone near such a the scholarships up to $9,000 granted from the Harvey collection eventually begins to count fingers, Pitt gift of decoys scholarship fund. estimating value. Everything has a price. So many rare decoys, so many, many dollars. The most Pitt had paid Is it any wonder that we find kinship with an for decoys was $12,000 for a canvasback and a teal, at outstanding carver, collector, and human, in our a time when decoys were much less costly. sharing of our wonderful hobby?

DECOY The word, ‘decoy,’ comes from the Dutch word, de kooi, which means a cage or space for trapping birds. A decoy is an image or likeness of a bird which attracts real birds to it.

9 Events and Notices

September 6, 2008 21st Annual Duck Fair The 21st Annual Duck Fair will be held from 9 – 4pm. A pleasant fall event held on the grounds of the museum. 30 wildlife artists and carvers, live and silent auction, retriever demonstrations, children’s activities, decoy painting, fun and food. Back by popular demand a Goose Calling Competition. This is a non-sanctioned contest sponsored by Delta Waterfowl. Admission to the Duck Fair is free.

September 27 & 28: 26th Annual Ocean County Decoy & Gunning Show, Tuckerton, NJ. 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Admission Free. Contact 609-971-3085 or [email protected] for additional information.

October 10 & 11: 11th Annual Chesapeake Wildfowl Expo, The Ward Museum. It’s fall again, the perfect time for two days of excitement, and fellowship among collectors and carvers from across the Mid-Atlantic Region. Pig Roast on Friday Night. Tickets: $12.00 at the museum’s giftshop.Contact Ward Museum of Wildlife Art, 410-742-4988, ext 120.

November 12 & 13, 2008 Decoy Auction- Talbot County Community Center, Easton, Maryland. Held in conjunction with the Easton Waterfowl Festival (Click for more details on festival). Approximately 600 Investment quality decoys & related items. Consignments for this auction will be accepted until September 10th or until full. Visit www.guyetteandschmidt.com for more information

November 14, 15 and 16. A Wildlife Art and Sportsman EXPO; Preview night Thursday, November 13 Sponsored by the Waterfowl Festival, Easton, MD 21601, 410-820-9286, or visit www.waterfowfestival.org

Join PDCA today!!! NEW MEMBERS are ALWAYS WELCOME WE ARE still THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK IN THE DECOY COLLECTING COMMUNITY!!! pdca MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE $20.00 PER YEAR. PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO POTOMAC DECOY COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION AND mail them to: Potomac Decoy Collectors Association c/o Chris Worch P.O. Box 2256 Leonardtown, MD 20605 (301) 475-9258(H)/(301) 350-7770(W) . Information collected will be used to update the PDCA Membership Directory. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month (except July, August and December) at the Paradiso Ristorante Italiano located at 6124 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310 (703-922-6222). The next meeting will be on September 15, 2008 at 6:30 PM

Membership information name: ______Spouse: ______address: ______Phone:(H)______(W)______Email______Collecting interests: ______We need your help!!! Please keep us informed of address and e-mail address changes. If you receive this letter by postal mail, and have an e-mail address, please send the e-mail update to [email protected]. 10