Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

Jenna Kunze

This bench was placed in front of the Haines Borough administration building last week, and has since drawn the curiosity of many tourists and locals, borough staff says. The two-seater spruce burl bench, crafted locally by Patrick Philpott, was commissioned by Debra Schnabel at the request of her uncle, Ed DiRe, as a memorial to Haines pioneers John and Erma Schnabel, and Mary and Allie Cordes. DiRe said he intends to gift the bench to the Haines community; Schnabel will advance that to the assembly for acceptance.