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A goose decoy, easily more than 100 years old, is now at home in Waves.

“The big bird is back home,” said Charles Minton.

“I’ve been all over searching for decoys,” said Rudy Gray. Gray was searching for decoys made by his great-grandfather, David Lilton Gray.

This one was on Roanoke Island.

A health care nurse from Manteo was visiting Gray. They started talking about his decoys and his search for “DLG” decoys. “I know we’ve got that decoy,” said nurse Kelly Raney.

As the story goes, Charles Minton was the driver’s education teacher for Dare County students at both Manteo and Cape Hatteras. He taught from 1972 to 1990. First Flight High wasn’t around until 2004.

Minton got to talking about duck hunting and decoys with Cape Hatteras students and Gray’s brother, Buddy Gray, told him “I know where some decoys are.”

Minton told him he could drive home and get credit for his required driving hours. One afternoon after school, Buddy Gray and Minton came to Waves and went behind the family’s store.

An old outhouse, not in use, was used to store decoys. The outhouse had blown over and scattered parts of decoys. One whole goose with its head still attached was found and went home with Minton.

At that time, the Minton family operated a motel with a swimming pool. He went to the pool and floated the decoy with its keel weight. It floated straight up. “It looked exactly like a goose sitting on the water.”

Minton said that was the last time the goose was wet.

The decoy has resided on the mantel. At Christmastime, Minton’s wife Christina D’Andrea Midgett Minton decorates the decoy with a hat and coat she made. When the Christmas decorations are brought out this year, Minton will make another visit to Waves and bring the goose’s hat and coat.

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