Havre de Grace Decoy Museum Plans To Expand

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — The Havre de Grace Decoy Museum is expanding, with the blessing of city officials.

The Havre de Grace City Council on Monday night approved a request by the museum to authorize plans for expansion.

The city owns the property where the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum is situated, according to the ordinance passed by the council.

The museum is in the process of applying for a $100,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Planning for its expansion, which will include a steel-framed building for the Madison Mitchell decoy shop.

Mitchell was one of the most prolific decoy makers and teachers in the region, according to a statement the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum provided to the city.

To prevent the exhibit from deteriorating due to extreme weather, officials said a new structure was required.

There was one technical difficulty, according to City Council President David Glenn.

The museum "needs support from the city, as it would require an easement" to receive the grant, Glenn said.

"Keep in mind that the art of decoy-making, countless waterfowl traditions and the myriad of decoy carvers are truly what makes Havre de Grace the decoy capital of the world,” Glenn said. “Failure to capitalize on this opportunity .. [would] truly be an opportunity lost. We need to preserve our history and our decoy heritage."

Unanimously, the City Council approved placing a Maryland Historical Trust easement on the property for up to 20 years.