Interim Haines Borough Manager Brad Ryan this week confirmed what David Pahl suspected: That a sign Pahl built for a historic steam-powered drill at the waterfront was mangled by a snowplow.
“I think they probably just destroyed it. Then they turned it upside-down,” Pahl said in an interview last week.
Pahl created the wrought-iron sign for the historic drill on Front Street near Lookout Park that he refurbished for the Haines Borough. The drill, placed on the waterfront about 30 years ago, for years lacked an interpretive sign explaining what it was.
Pahl’s sign included some extras. He added a “lean rail” at the bottom and wrapped its legs in curlicue metal scroll work. To make sure it wouldn’t be damaged by plows, Pahl built the four-foot sign with a detachable base so it could be removed in winter.
On Friday, Pahl discovered his creation had new legs and paint, was positioned at a steeper angle, was missing its signature scroll work and its lean rail had been relocated on top instead of the bottom, where visitors could lean on it.
“The plow did hit the sign and Public Works rebuilt the stand,” Ryan said in an email Tuesday.
Pahl said he initially was upset about the damage, but has since calmed down. Still, he’s disappointed he wasn’t notified of the damage, as he would have volunteered to help with repairs.
“I would have helped put it back together. I spent a lot of time making it artistic… I made it so it could be removed for snow plowing. That’s the pisser.”
Also at the site, some historic pieces of metal machinery – wheels from a boat railroad at Glacier Point, a propeller discovered at Indian Point and a vessel’s capstan – were moved about 25 feet south, left scattered in front of the steam drill.
Ryan said those pieces were moved to get them out of the way of the new wastewater outfall. Pahl said in their new location, the pieces appear to be part of the drill, which they aren’t.