PORT TOWNSEND — Former Fort Worden State Park Director Kate Burke is the recipient of the Port Townsend School of Woodworking’s inaugural Founders’ Award.
Burke, who received the award at the school’s first Founders’ Day breakfast Thursday, was a key influence in the early days of the school, which opened in 2007, said school founder Tim Lawson.
The school wanted to expand its profile at Fort Worden, where it is located at 200 Battery Way, and Burke agreed to do so — if the school addressed historical preservation issues.
“Kate has been in the background of the development of the school during the whole time,” Lawson said.
“She was the first to come up with the idea of teaching historical preservation techniques,” he explained.
“We had never thought about that but said, ‘Hey, that’s something that we can do.’”
Burke, who said she was “a bit embarrassed” by the award — which is intended to honor an individual who has provided support to the school — cited Lawson and fellow co-founders Jim Tolpin and John Marckworth for their vision in putting the school together.
“There is a passion and a tenacity that is the result of a tremendous amount of work, along with the staff and volunteers,” she said.
“The school has demonstrated a vital part of the lifelong learning center and will set the standard that future partners will have to achieve.”
Teaching historical preservation is now a large part of the curriculum, with the school keeping that operation close by renovating the buildings on the Fort Worden campus.
“The preservation of historical buildings is architect- and bureaucracy-heavy,” Lawson said.
“There are not enough craftsmen to thoughtfully restore these buildings in the way that it needs to be done, and we need to train the next generation of people who will keep this activity alive.
“The school’s role is to provide mentors and internships, and to develop the partnerships that will help us to train the craftsmen of the future.”
Wood crafts are an important piece of regional history and also can shape the future, according to material presented at the breakfast.
“Along with the Wooden Boat School, I believe that East Jefferson County and the North Olympic Peninsula can be the center of training in the Northwest for these trades and crafts,” Lawson said.
“I look forward to our working together, taking the opportunity to develop mastering crafts in wood and other materials.”
Lawson said he recently received a call from Marygrace Jennings, cultural resources manager of the state Department of Enterprise Services, asking if the school could help restore the Governor’s Mansion.
“We are exploring these opportunities, to train people who can restore these buildings in a variety of locations,” Lawson said.
To raise funds and add reliable financial support, the school is soliciting people to become charter members, he said.
Gifts of $120 or more will be honored with a leaf on the Tree of Giving at the school, while gifts of a lesser amount will be mentioned in the annual report.
The school hopes the campaign will raise $25,000 by December.
For more information or to contribute to the campaign, visit www.ptwoodschool.com.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
