Rebecca Howard was revered for many things in her time, including being an outstanding hotelier and cook. Less known is that Howard was the first female business owner in Olympia.
Born around 1827, Howard came to Olympia from the East Coast with her husband, Alexander, and had a fully operating hotel and restaurant by 1859. Little else is known about her early life, and her exact date of birth isn't known. Some historians suspect she was a former slave. In 1860, Howard started advertising her business as "Pacific Restaurant," located in what is now known as the Pacific House Building on Capitol Way.
Howard's legacy as a prominent Black female figure in Olympia history was honored first in 2012, when a mural of her was completed on the south side of the building where her restaurant once stood. Now, a park may carry her name into the future.
Olympia's Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee conducted a virtual public hearing Thursday night on naming a downtown park the Rebecca Howard Park for Peace and Healing. And with overwhelming support from community members and the committee, the name has now moved on to City Council for approval.
The 0.34-acre park is at 911 Adams St. SE. The parcel was purchased by the city a few years ago, and discussion of it so far has focused on creating a place for peace and healing around race and equity, according to a press release.
Shawna Hawk, a resident and founder of the Women of Color in Leadership Movement and director of Media Island International, suggested the park be named after Howard. Hawk came to Olympia in 2013 and noticed immediately how white the city was. But she found herself captivated by the mural of Howard downtown.
"I've had some ups and downs in this town, the knowledge of Rebecca Howard and her portrait served as an inspiration to keep moving, do what I know how, and follow the signs," Hawk said during the meeting and in a letter to the committee.
Parks Director Paul Simmons said the property was purchased from Fertile Ground, a local cooperative that has a bed and breakfast next door. The group also had a community garden on the site that will now be a park. Media Island International culture center is located across the street, as well as Olympia Timberland Library, putting the park in the center of an active neighborhood.
Simmons said the goal of the park is to celebrate, honor and recognize the local history and contributions of Olympia's African American community members, as well as provide a safe place for peace and healing that honors representation and fosters a sense of belonging and inclusion. He said this can be accomplished at the park through storytelling, performances and art from or led by African American community members.
"This will be unlike any other park that we have in our system in Olympia," Simmons said.
Greg Griffith, an Olympia Historical Society board member, voiced the historical society's support in naming the park after Howard.
"The fact that Rebecca is just sort of a wonderful example of what good citizenry is and represents no matter what time period or race or what your belief system is," Griffith said.
Olivia Salazar de Breaux, equity and inclusion coordinator for the city of Olympia, said she has been involved in stakeholder meetings on the park's future.
"It's so inspiring to see that we are moving in this direction, and I think this is a really important step toward healing for this community," she said.
From here, Olympia City Council will deliberate and vote on the parks committee's recommendation. Then it will come down to planning what all will be included in the park, from informational bulletins to themed educational areas on other early Black Olympians.
"Naming the park that is across from our cultural center after such an amazing pioneer, and acknowledging an African American woman such as Rebecca Howard, would mean so much to women of color, especially Black women in this community and beyond," Hawk said. "It could set the tone for growth, acknowledgment, and respect for the Black community as a whole."
