Capt. Harry Jobes passed away May 10th. 2019 to go to the Decoy Shop in the Sky! He will be missed.

    Click on image at right for larger image. This picture taken July 1, 2006 in front of Bobby Jobes decoy shop in Havre de Grace, MD.

November 7th. 2010
Never before made!!
Harry finished making 13 Puffin Decoys for the first time ever - for a longtime customer request in AZ. 

SPECIAL LIMITED EDITIONS
1st - Pintail drake decoy
2nd - Old Squaw drake decoy
Were only available here on HarryJobesdecoys.com
Click on the image below for purchasers information.

Captain Harry Jobes was born 11/19/1936 has been carving decoys for 72 years since the age of 9. Harry passed away May 10, 2019 to go to the decoy shop in the sky at 82 years old. 2015 maybe some into 2016 dates would be the last decoys Harry was able to produce. 

Capt Harry is a supporter of Ducks Unlimited as you see
from the back of his vehicle. Click the image for a larger image.

Harry is a legendary talent, a master of gunning birds made in the style of the area, "The Susquehanna Flats", Chesapeake Bay decoys. His carving career began in Charles Nelson Barnard’s decoy shop which was located two blocks up the street from his home at the age of 8 or 9 by sanding duck heads. After several years Mr. Barnard died and Harry began working for the legendary Madison Mitchell. 

"I made twenty-five cents an hour after school…I spoke shaved decoys…run the machines…I got so I could do just about anything…it didn’t make any difference it it was painting or making the heads. I did anything in the shop." (Capn' Harry)

Capn. Harry worked for the famous R. Madison Mitchell for nearly 25 years before opening his own shop.  He has been featured in books, museums and in private collections. During his life he has been a commercial waterman, a hunting guide, as well as a charter boat captain.  Some old images are available. Click Here.

"Bailey Moltz was the best headcarver on the East Coast; he’s the one who really taught me how to whittle a head. But, the painting I learned off Mitchell. He has had the biggest influence on me as a decoy maker…no question about it…" (Capn' Harry)

Capn. Harry has three sons that have learned from him and other great carvers in the local area and then followed him into the decoy business. Each of them is a talented carver and painter, working on his own line of decoys. Captain Bob Jobes is the oldest, then Charles Jobes and Joey Jobes.

"I have raised three boys, and they can do anything to a decoy that needs to be done." Bobby specializes in miniatures, Charles in half-size, and Joey in full-size decoys. "All three are good. They’re all better than I am," commented Harry. "Let’s put it this way, there’s always somebody better than you are. It doesn’t make any difference what you do." (Capn' Harry)

Harry was married July 22, 2006 to Virginia, a longtime school friend. 

Harry used to make decoys all year ‘round and had a very demanding business. The demand for his decoys constantly exceeded his ability to produce them. You may purchase Capt. Harry Decoys at Goosefoot.com  or use the email link to inquire about purchasing items. 

From 2015 Harry has been having medical and physical issues and has not been able to produce decoys. I last visited him just prior to Christmas 2016 and he was doing pretty well but not able to get into the shop for any production.

History of Harry Jobes

Harry R. Jobes, Sr. was born on November 19, 1936 in Harford County, MD. He was a third generation Havre de Grace born member of a family originally rooted in Pennsylvania. His great grandfather Joseph Allen Jobes (1846-1931) moved his family to Havre de Grace from Bucks County, PA in the 1870’s. Harry’s great grandmother was Caroline E Rowe (1849-1929). Her family goes back to 17th century Germany. Caroline’s great grandfather Dr. Johann M Rauh (1728-1792) migrated from Germany to PA. Dr. Rauh’s son’s last name became Michael Rowe (1765-1816) after he was born in America.

In 1860, teenager Joseph Jobes lived on a Bucks County, PA farm with a family named Wright. He was still in school. Twenty years later in 1880, Harry’s great grandfather Joe Jobes was 35 years old. He was married to 34 year old Carrie and they were living in Havre de Grace, MD. They already had four boys and a girl. The children ranged in age from one to eleven. Harry’s grandfather Harry A Jobes (1871-1951) was nine years old. Great Grandfather Joe Jobes made his living as a bridge carpenter.

Fast forward another two decades to 1900 and we see grandfather Harry A Jobes still lived with his parents and siblings in Havre de Grace. He was 29 and both he and his brothers Edward and George were all employed as can makers. Ten years later in 1910, Harry was married to Alice Annette Dunston (1875-1955). The couple now owned a factory and grandfather Jobes was a machinist. In 1920, Harry and Alice lived at 408 St John Street in Havre de Grace. Harry’s grandfather worked as a clerk in a clothing store and he and Alice were now blessed with two children. Donald Keith Jobes (b.1911) was 8 years old and attending school. He would go on to complete the eighth grade.

The Jobes family lived at 721 Otsego Street in Havre de Grace according to the 1930 census. Harry’s grandfather owned the home valued at $3,000. The family did not yet have a radio in their house. Harry’s dad, Donald still lived with his parents. He was 18 years old, single and unemployed.

By 1940, Donald was married to Bernadine Jobes (b.1915). The couple still lived with Don’s parents in their Havre de Grace home on Otsego St. Harry Robert Jobes (b.1936) now lived with his parents and paternal grandparents in Havre de Grace. Harry’s dad worked as an assistant store houseman for the United States government at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. His annual income was $1,300. He worked 44 hours a week. So did his wife. Harry’s mom was a stenographer. She earned $800 that year. Harry’s grandfather made $950 that year. He worked 48 hours a week in a department store.

When young Harry Jobes got a wee bit older, he started running the streets of Havre de Grace. His first exposure to the art of decoy making was during his first decade on earth. Decoy maker Charles Nelson Barnard lived in Havre de Grace at 418 North Stokes Street. Harry could walk there from his family’s home in 5 minutes. Mr. Jobes has recounted how as a boy, he periodically mixed his playtime with working on decoys in Mr. Barnard’s shop. Harry also recounted how much more accommodating to young boys Mr. Barnard was when compared to another neighborhood decoy maker, Bob McGaw. Mr. McGaw’s shop was almost a 15-minute walk for young Harry from his house. The pre-teen future decoy maker preferred the temperament of the Barnard shop to what the young lad found when he visited with Mr. McGaw.

As a young man, Harry Jobes was just as committed to living a full life as he was when he was an adult. Harry worked part-time as he continued to tutor under Mr. Barnard until Charles ended his decoy career. During that time, Harry ascended into the Havre de Grace High School. In addition to his part-time job making decoys and his studies, Harry was both a varsity baseball and football player while at Hd GHS. He was a member of the baseball team that won the Harford County High School Championship in 1953. His athletic endeavors secured him a membership in the school’s varsity club.

Harry made and painted a decoy when he was in elementary school. Then, he entered it in a contest at the high school. He got a ribbon of some sort. It was during that contest that Harry met Mrs. Helen Mitchell. She was the wife of another Havre de Grace decoy carver. She was actually the member of the Mitchell family who hired Harry to work in her husband R Madison Mitchell’s decoy shop after Mr. Barnard stopped making decoys and didn’t need Harry’s help any longer.

Harry worked for the Mitchells making decoys in their shop on a part-time basis for more than 25 years. When he started, Mr. Mitchell paid Harry 25 cents an hour for his efforts. Mr. Jobes’ time spent in that shop exposed him to some of the most talented decoy crafters in the world. Harry learned from them all. Bailey Moltz’s, Titbird Bauer’s and Pop Sampson’s names do not have the same level of recognition today as Harry’s or Mr. Mitchell’s. Those fellows and others are the lesser-known masters of Madison’s shop. Those men taught Harry Jobes and many other young area carvers how to make decoys. Harry enthusiastically took what he learned and then he raised the area’s decoy marketing to a new level.

Harry Jobes married Alice Helen Salters (1938-1991) and together they lived in Aberdeen. The couple had three sons during the years between 1959 and 1968. Mr. Jobes introduced all three of his children to the craft of decoy making. Harry’s sons, Bobby (b.1959), Joey (b.1965) and Charles (b.1968) have enjoyed long and highly productive careers making decoys. They go about their work in much the same way as their dad and the old masters that Harry knew and learned from did. Harry’s second wife Helen M Baker (1929-2004) helped with the business end of Harry’s decoy enterprise in Havre de Grace.

Until 1985, Harry made his primary living as a boat captain. Thus, he is widely known as “Captain” Harry R Jobes. During his career, Mr. Jobes skippered research vessels for the states of Maryland and Virginia as well as a patrol boat off the federal proving grounds in Aberdeen, MD. Captain Harry also ran his own charter boat for many years. He was the epitome of a waterman.

In 1985, Captain Harry began making decoys full time in his own shop. Now, almost 35 years later, Captain Harry has slowed things down. You can still buy his decoys from his website and he is occasionally found in a Panama hat at decoy related events with his sons. For countless years, Captain Harry and his family members have all generously contributed their time and energies to the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, Ducks Unlimited and other similar historical and conservation charities.

Captain Harry’s decoy production is quite phenomenal. He has made both gunning decoys and ornamental decoys. His decoys are lathe turned. They have the traits of the traditional Havre de Grace decoy. Harry has made just about every species of waterfowl in every pose you can conceive. He has sold his birds on television via the QVC network and on the internet via a website. Collectors can find Harry’s decoys in every state in the nation and all around the world.

From Facebook post of Upper Bay Decoy Collectors Club

NOTE
This website is for information abut Harry Jobes and his decoys. It is designed and operated by Riverside Retreat for the use of anyone that appreciates this carvers work and the collectible value of his carvings. The owner of this site is a friend of Harry Jobes and operates the site with his full knowedge and co-operation. 
I thank you for your visit.
Nick @ Riverside Retreat