The Other Delaware River…..Part 2
In the March/April 2019 issue of Hunting and Fishing Collectibles Magazine I wrote a story entitled "The Other Delaware River " You can read that article in the photograph below.
Hunting and Fishing Collectible. March/April 2019 “ The Other Delaware River” by Jode Hillman
In it, I described the work of Clark Madara, originally from Cape May, who moved to Pitman, New Jersey around 1910. He brought the fluid Cape May style to Gloucester County, and as such was grouped under the genre of "Delaware River Carvers."
However his work with its unique fluid curves, oversized bodies, and flocked finishes, set him apart from the more northerly practitioners of the river style.
There were at least two other men who hunted and carved with Madara. Among them Mel Grouch and Dominic Salvatore. And As it turned out, at least one other I will outline below.
Given Madara's residence in Pitman, it was strange that a large group of his unused, mint condition Decoys, "overnighter" sneak box, as well as hunting paraphernalia, came up at a farm auction outside of Mullica Hill nearly 40 years after his death. Until now no one has been able to account for this unlikely turn of events.
Enter Robert Holzworth. At the end of my above mentioned article my contact information was listed.
Nearly 5 years after the article was published Robert Holzworth ( now in his 90's) contacted me and asked if I was interested in buying some Madera Decoys.
He sent pictures and I soon recognized the sleek thin body style of an early Madara Black Duck.
I asked Robert for his phone number. I contacted him and we began a series of phone conversations, that shed much light on Madara, his hunting partners and how his decoys ended up at said farm.
Mr. Holzworth was employed by RCA/Columbia records in Pitman from the early 1950s until 1972. ( Later it became Sony records).
Columbia was the largest employer In Pitman, and one of the largest in southern New Jersey.
Robert was a duck hunter, outdoorsman an amateur Decoy Carver. Many people in those days made their own decoys because commercially available ones were hard to come by and expensive.
Though the local hunting network Mr. Holzworth heard there was another waterfowler who operated a farm between Pitman and Mullica Hill. His name was Joseph Harker Hazleton.
J.H. Hazleton was one of the last in a direct line of descendants to farm in this area of Mullica Hill, located on Clems Run Road. ( about 5 miles from Pitman) His grandfather John Wright Hazleton was a U.S. representative from New Jersey after the Civil War, and an affluent member of local society.
J.H. Hazelton had a complete shop for repairing farm equipment. Included in the shop was a large band saw. Mr. Holzworth found out Hazelton also carved and repaired decoys. He would cut out decoy parts for others for a fee.
Robert soon availed himself of those services.
It was during these visits that Mr. Holzworth saw and was introduced to Clark Madara decoys, sneakbox, and much of his hunting paraphernalia. It was left at the farm after Clark passed in 1953. As fate would have it J.H. Hazleton was a friend and hunting partner of Madara. Clark stored much of his rig at the farm because of the available space.
So intrigued was Mr. Holzworth by Madara's unique style, He often inquired about purchasing some of Clark's Decoys, which Hazleton was always reluctant to sell.
However eventually during one of these visits Mr. Holzworth was able to purchase the below pictured black duck. It is in out of rig condition with the original line and weight attached.
Clark Madara Sleek body black duck
He also was able to purchase a well used later model black duck in Madara's oversized simpler style.
On several occasions he tried to purchase Pintails, Mergansers, and other unique Decoys that Mr. Hazelton refused to sell. He explained that Clark had made a goal before he died of carving one pair each of all of the species that inhabit the southern New Jersey area.
According to Mr. Holzworth, Hazleton retained some of Madara's patterns as well as instruction in making that style of Decoy.
Fast forward to 2025 when a 15 bird rig of oversized Cork body Madera style Decoys turned up for sale. They were from the family of another prominent Mullica Hill farmer.
Rig Picture below
The Entire Moods rig. You can see the Madara Style Blacks top right, Pintails front center, Mallards mid left, and Bluebill pair Center. Other birds include LL Bean Geese and Trend Decoys
These decoys were made for the late Lewis Mood. Owner and proprietor of Mood's Farm. Located several miles south of the Hazleton Farm. Moods farm was, and is, a successful orchard, farm market and Cidermill still in operation today.
Lewis Mood was the proprietor from the 1930s until the late 1970s.
He was an avid outdoorsman, dirt track racer, ( Pitman New Jersey was the closest local racetrack) and Duck Hunter.
6 of the Moods Rig from my collection
Lewis’ son, now in his 80s, said that his father obtained the rig sometime after "the war" ( WW2) from "An unknown Carver located in Gloucester County"
These decoys clearly are made in Madara's signature style. The Heads in my opinion, undoubtedly were carved by Clark himself. They feature sharp cut bill carving, delineated lower mandibles, impressed nostrils, and carved nails on the ends of the bills. Such techniques match examples of Madara's other known work.
The bodies also bear striking resemblance. However there are no known examples of Madara working in cork material.
The Black ducks in the rig feature Clarks signature black flocked paint.
Flocked oversize Black duck.
They are well oversized and bear the sinuous curves and protruding breasts of his best period.
The Mallards features exact matching paint colors from other known examples of this species. The Pintails brushwork, again is reminiscent of Clark's style.
Madara/Moods Pintail
Oversized mallard
I inquired to Mr. Holzworth about these cork "style" Madara's. He said that Local carvers were buying cork as early as the 1930s from the Armstrong Cork Company in Camden New Jersey. It was black refrigeration cork. Exactly what these decoys are made from.
There is no way to know for sure if the Mood Rig was made solely by Madara, or if they were a combination of his work as well as Hazelton and/or others.
Even though we may never know the exact pedigree these fine rig of New Jersey Decoys,
What is certain, is that they were made from Madara's patterns, in his signature style. It is nearly certain that Lewis Mood knew JH Hazleton. It is likely this association led to the creation and or purchase of this rig.
In closing, to tie everything together, after JH Hazelton's death in 1962, The farm was left to his son William Hazelton.
William was not a duck Hunter. The decoys, sneakbox and hunting gear remained hidden away in a dark corner of a dusty barn. They would not see the light of day for another 40 years.
William passed away in 1994, never having any children. By 1997 the farm was up for a public auction. All machinery, asset's, and contents, were to be sold. Including a treasure trove of old hunting decoys that would soon make a giant splash in the Decoy world.
And that as they say is "The rest of the story ".
Post Script:
These decoys are part of the rich, unique water fowling history we have in Southern New Jersey. They are the inspiration that I draw from, when making my own oversized hunting decoys in this style.
Oversized Madara Style Black Duck by Jode Hillman
Oversized Madara mallard by Jode Hillman .
Thanks for reading, Jode