Decoy Carver
Years ago former Chief of Department Larry Kosmalski did a feature in the Detroit Firefighters Magazine. It was called, Personal Glimpse. His articles profiled the interesting activities of many Detroit Firefighters. This selection is about Captain Herbie Hahn, who was a famous duck hunter and decoy carver.
Herbert Hahn was born in 1929. He grew up in Southwest Detroit. He married a pretty lassie from Edenborough, Scotland, named Sandy. They had two children, Steve and Kathy. Herb spent over 35 years with the Detroit Fire department. He has been carving and hunting since 1949. He started carving professionally in 1982. He won numerous awards over the years and in a run of ten shows in a row, he either won first place or best of show in each.
His advice to other would be carvers is number one, it is not a hobby to make money. Number two, do not be afraid to enter your work in shows. Third, and most important, seek out an established carver or join a class that teaches carving.
Herb's prices for his decoys vary but in 1985 they were $250 for a duck and up to $800 for a goose decoy. He won an award at the Pt. Mouille National Midwest Decoy Contest and has been designated as a judge at the Ottowa Wild fowl Reserve Contest in Ohio.
Herb is a conservationist and believes you can’t take without giving back. He urges everyone to get involved with preserving our great water fowl hunting heritage. The Detroit River is home to tens of thousands of ducks who winter in this area. Canvasebacks, Redheads, and Goldeneyes are probably the most common birds seen, but Herb has also seen an occasional Eider or an Old Squaw when out hunting. These birds are in dire need of safe abundant wintering habitat so they can gather strength and fill out to maximum size for proper reproduction. The reason this is so important is that most birds die in their first year. It is a fact that the older the hen is, the more productive she becomes.
Herb is a real paradox. He is six feet tall and weighs over 200 pounds. He can wield an axe like a woodsman and still craft the delicate feathers on a decoy with am adroit dexterity. Herb is not only a good Firefighter but he is also an accomplished artist.
"Fire Talk" Archives
- Benny the Hook
- Got To Love Texas
- The Fog of Retirement
- Two Tough Kids
- On Leaving the Department
- Cop Talk 3, Ceremony
- Putting it on the Line
- A Bond of Love
- God Will Protect Us
- Stealing Fires
- Poo Poo Pants
- Decoy Carver
- Firefighter's Road Trip
- Day Twenty-seven. Road Trip
- Down Mexico Way
- Zoo in the 7th
- A Gentle Landing
- Always a Firefighter
- Christmas at the Firehouse
- Harem Sacrum
- The Crow Who Spoke Polish
- Once a Firefighter always a Firefighter
- A Brotherhood
- Retiring a Hall of Fame Firefighter
- Anatomy of Forcible Entry
- 911
- Old Horses
- The Milk Wagon
- The Howling
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 26, Destructo
- Memories of the 7th Battalion
- Running Mates
- Engine 32
- Last Alarm
- Tiger Stadium Fire
- To Moosenee and Back
- Memorial Day 2009
- Anatomy of a Fire at a Dangerous Building
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 25, A Typical 7th Battalion Fire
- Boris the Talking Dog
- Wear and Tear
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 24, Legends
- Axemen
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 23, Ankie
- Anatomy of a Dwelling Fire
- A Firefighter's Spring
- Input
- My Running Mate
- The Singing Fireman
- The Right Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 22, A Desperate Rescue
- 300 Spartans
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 21, Men Who Fight Bears
- At the End of His Rope
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 20, Wolf Warriors
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 19, Motorcycle Maniac
- Career Ending Injuries
- Detroit Loses One of Its Finest
- On Duty Injuries
- Unpractical Jokes
- Dedication in the Fire Service
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 18, Spare Parts
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 17, Passage to Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 16, Gallant Warrior
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 15, Big Ones
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 14, Chicago Lil
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 13, Bridge Fires
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 12, Hot Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 11, Taco Wars
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 10, Day in Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 9, Engine House Cat
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 8, Finding a Pen
- The Polish Squad
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 7, Wayne Soap
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 6, Junk Yard Goat
- The 1967 Riot in Detroit 3
- Department Legends
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 5, The Fonz
- The 1967 Riot (an entry from Tom Hart)
- The 1967 Detroit Riot
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 4, Howard
- The Buhl Building Fire
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 3, Engine 27
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 2, Roof Rescue
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 1, Explosion
- The worst 7th Battalion Fire
- Fire Incidents
- Beeler's Fog Monster
- Thoughts of a Retired Firefighter
- Dogs of the Realm
- Going to the Dogs
- Firefighter/Lawyer ?
- Moe Tales
- The Legend of Moe
- A POEM: When Brave Men Cry