A Decoy Corner Article
By Bruce Urben, WWA President
All photos courtesy Hunting and Fishing Collectibles magazine
A Bresnahan decoy with its signature inserted hardwood bill design.
I wrote a Decoy Corner article several years ago about a Factory Decoy Co. in Whitehall, Michigan called Sibley Decoy Co.. The unique quality of these decoys came from an inserted hardwood bill design that allowed replacement if damaged or broken. It was believed at the time that this was the only factory decoy with a replacement hardwood bill! However, about five years ago another decoy was found that also had an inserted hardwood bill and it’s roots were traced right back here to Wisconsin!
Michael and Ellen Bresnahan immigrated to the U.S. in 1873 and finally settled in Marinette, WI, in 1877. Michael was involved in the lumber industry right up until his death in 1915. Michael and Ellen had three sons who also followed their father into the lumber business. The brothers started their own company in the mid 1920’s in Menominee, MI, called Bresnahan Lumber and Fuel Co.. After the death of the two older brothers, the youngest brother, Patrick, had the controlling interest in the company and was joined by his son, Henry, who eventually took over the business. The company held several large government contracts for furniture and also began producing juvenile furniture during the baby boom era. Their production of furniture continued to expand into markets including Montgomery Ward, JC Penny and Gamble/Skogmo – large markets at the time. The company purchased a facility in Oconto, WI, that included a sawmill and kiln, which cut their production costs.
Bresnahan Decoy Co. decoys
Both Patrick and Henry were avid waterfowlers that had ties to several duck clubs. Their waterfowling interests fueled the production of decoys by Bresnahan employees in their spare time. It is not known how many decoys were produced or whether they were commercially available. It is clear that Bresnahan Wood Products had all of the tools to produce decoys, including duplicating lathes, wood stock, bandsaws, tenon cutters, drill presses and sanders.
Bresnahan decoys were unique because of their head construction. The head is attached to the lathe turned body with a mortise and tenon joint, similar to the joint they used in their chair construction. The wood head is carved in two pieces, with a hardwood forward portion that includes the bill and is joined to the back head half with a spline joint. The glass eyes were obtained from Herters and placed near the spline joint. The body of the decoy was a simple lathe turned design. Original oil paint was applied in a simple pattern.
Another Bresnahan Decoy Co. decoy
Because of the limited number of Bresnahan decoys known to be in existence, their value is great to collectors. According to remaining family members, many of the decoys were given away to Patrick and Henry’s hunting partners and some of the factory employees.
Bresnahan Wood products was closed in 1962 after declining markets. The factory in Menominee, MI, was sold in 1965 to Menominee Engineering Co., metal manufacturing.
Let the records show that Sibley Decoy Co. was NOT the only decoy maker to use inserted hardwood bills. Small town innovation in Marinette/Menominee also produced the classic Bresnahan decoy!