Letter from Historic TacomaMary Jaenicke
From: Michael Lafreniere <info@ historictacoma.org >
Sent: Thursday, September 5, 2024 12:23 PM
To: Mary Jaenicke
Subject: Proposal to rename Alderbrook Park to Conna Park
Attachments: Letter to FW re Conna Park Naming.pdf
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Ms. Jaenicke,
Please distribute and share the attached comment letter from Historic Tacoma's board of directors to its
intended recipients. I would also ask that it be included as written comment for the record for your upcoming
meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission.
Thank you.
Michael Lafreniere
Communications Director
(253) 228-0925
HISTORIC
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I September 5, 2024
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www.HistoricTacoma.org
Board of Directors
Bill Baarsma
Jennifer Baersten
Kathleen Brooker
Steve Dunkelberger
Ross Griffith
Marshall McClintock
Marc McDonald
Staff
Michael Lafreniere,
Outreach & Communications
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PO Box 7664
Tacoma, WA 98417-0664
Honorable Mayor Jim Ferrell
City of Federal Way
33325 8th Ave S
Federal Way, WA 98003-6325
Dear Mayor Ferrell:
The Board of Historic Tacoma strongly supports the efforts of the descendants of
John Newington Conna and his family to commemorate the historical contributions of
John and Mary Conna in Federal Way, and we write to convey our support for your
proposal to rename Alderbrook Park to Conna Park.
John Conna holds an important place in the development of Federal Way, Tacoma
and the early history of their Black communities. Born into slavery, John Conna
fought in Civil War. In 1883 John, Mary and their family settled in Washington
Territory on a Homestead Claim in what is today Federal Way. By 1885 John was
working with Allen C. Mason, one of Tacoma's foremost developers. In 1888, he
started his own successful real estate, insurance, and law practice. Sadly, the family's
house in Tacoma's North Slope Historic District no longer stands, nor do the several
buildings where he had offices.
Active in state and local politics, John Conna helped organize Tacoma's John Brown
Republican Club and served as its first president in 1890. That same year he
organized and was elected president of the Washington State Protective League,
part of the National Afro-American League, an early precursor to the NAACP. In the
first state legislative session, John worked with Rep. William O. Bush to pass a Public
Accommodations Act that banned discrimination based on race, color or nationality
in restaurants, theaters, and other places of public accommodation. He was elected
Deputy Sergeant -At -Arms by the 1888 Territorial Legislature, and the following year
the first State Legislature elected him the Sergeant -At -Arms. He was appointed
Deputy U.S. Marshal and served several years as Company Quartermaster Sergeant
of the Tacoma Militia. In 1896 he ran statewide as a Presidential Elector for then
Gov. William McKinley.
As major contributors to the development of Federal Way, Tacoma and its African
American community, John & Mary deserve to have their name and contributions
recognized by the city that was their first home.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Baersten, President
Historic Tacoma Board of Directors
cc: Parks & Recreation Commissioners
John Hutton, Parks Department Director
Mary Jaenicke, Administrative Assistant