Washington woodworker wins Founders’ Award

Steve Habersetzer recently received the Founders’ Award from the Port Townsend School of Woodworking, given annually to a community member who has made a significant contribution to the growth and development of the school.

Habersetzer was selected for his dedication and passion to woodworking, according to Tim Lawson, one of the school’s three founders, along with Jim Toplin and John Marckworth.

“Steve was one of the original hippie settlers in Port Townsend and the ethic and the integrity that he brings with him is phenomenal,” Lawson says.

“His passion for life, woodworking and organic farming are inspirational. Every student lucky enough to visit his shop leaves deeply impressed and wanting to build a shop like Steve’s.”

Habersetzer is a founding member of the Splinter Group, a volunteer organization that puts on the annual Port Townsend Woodworkers’ Show. He also teaches at the Washington school.

“We acknowledge Port Townsend is a very special community with a ludicrously high level of excellent craftsmen and is a longstanding woodworking community, and the school wouldn’t thrive without the support of that community. So we like to recognize individuals and institutions that have helped the school get established. These are people who’ve done something for the school or the community,” Lawson adds. 

Contact: Port Townsend School of Woodworking. Tel: 360-344-4455. www.ptwoodschool.com

This article originally appeared in the May 2014 issue.