Selecting a Name
In choosing a name for their project, the Mount Zion Housing Development (MZHD) Board of Directors wanted to depart from naming the building after a specific individual or place, but instead leaned more to a name that provided a tie to its mission and vision and that reflected the history, inspiration, and connection to the Central District of Seattle.
The qualities and values that we tried to reflect in our new project were those of the maintenance of history, safety, comfort, inspiration, and hope. The aim was to create a place and space that inspired one to feel safe, comfortable and a sense of warmth and rejuvenation in coming home. A place that represented longevity and endurance beyond our time.
The chosen name: The Central District FreeHold.
The word ‘Freehold’ means a permanent and absolute form of tenure by which real property is held for life. As such, it must have two qualities: unmovable and it is held forever. “We like the words within the word – Free + Hold; The word reflects our values of history, inspiration, safety, connection, hope, and renewal. The mere definition reflects the mission and vision of MZHD.”
In choosing this name, MZHD will have the opportunity to name future projects ‘Freeholds’ with different qualifiers for location or other honors, e.g. “The Madison Freehold”, or the “Black and Tan Freehold,” etc.
We wanted to remember the history of the Central District, its people, places, and events. Events and places such as: The Mardi Gras, The Birdland, The Drum Room, Madison Plaza, Volume Food Market, The Black and Tan, The Seafair Parade down 23rd Avenue. All of these places and events evoke memories for those people who have connections or historical ties to the Central District. In living at The Central District Freehold, we wanted people to feel invigorated by the memory of these events and places.
Honoring residents and their contributions: In addition to the naming of the building, we wanted to remember and honor people both living and deceased that have contributed to the history and vitality of the Central District by naming spaces in honor of them and their works in the community.
The John and Mary Kelsie Community Garden
John and Mary Kelsie were married in Sept. 1943 in Barnwell South Carolina. Following John’s honorable discharge from the U.S. Army they lived in Aiken, South Carolina. During the Great migration in 1950 they moved to Seattle and purchased a home in the Central District off 19th avenue where they lived for over 70 years. They were married for over 75 years and had 6 children.
The Kelsie’s joined Mount Zion Baptist Church in 1956 and became active members. They were part of the original Social Committee. They were ordained with the class of 1979 and served faithfully on the Diaconate Ministry. John and Mary served on several committees and were well loved by all. The main roles they served were Mr. Kelsie as the caretaker of the church and Mrs. Kelsie prepared and served many delicious meals as one of the main cooks. Mr. Kelsie was known for his smoked meats that he prepared on his own special smoker. They proved to be a staple of the church and community as they served in various positions and capacities. In 2015, both were awarded the status of Deacon Emeritus.
John and Mary Kelsie were no strangers to working the soil and gardened an empty plot of land across the street from their home on 20th Ave for many years. MZHD wanted to honor them by naming the roof garden in their honor: “The John and Mary Kelsie Community Garden.”
The Sam Smith Community Room
Samuel J. Smith enjoyed a rich 24-year career as the first African-American member of the Seattle City Council. His personal warmth toward contemporaries and constituents was renowned among followers of municipal history, as was his dedication to social and economic justice. He was a longtime member of Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Born on July 21, 1922, in Gibsland, Louisiana, Smith was the youngest child of eight siblings. Graduating from high school in 1940, Smith was drafted into the Army two years later, reaching the rank of warrant officer after two years of service in Seattle and the Philippines, among other places. Following the war’s end, Smith settled permanently in Seattle’s Central District and married Marion King, his high school sweetheart. Together, the two would raise six children.
Earning degrees in Social Science from Seattle University and Economics from the University of Washington, Smith started work at Boeing in 1952. In 1958, Smith began serving the State House of Representatives for Seattle’s 37th District. He served five consecutive terms, and was a vocal proponent of civil rights legislation, particularly the anti-discrimination Open Housing Law that eventually passed in 1967. The same year, Smith left the Legislature to run for a seat on the Seattle City Council.
Smith’s spearheaded the successful adoption of a municipal Open Housing Law in 1968. Throughout his career, Smith also pressed for the hiring of African-American police officers and firefighters, and, as the long-time chairman of the Utilities Committee, opposed the increase of power, water, and garbage rates for low-income residents. He served as City Council President from 1974 to 1977 and again from 1986 to 1989, and chaired the Public Safety Committee, Housing and Human Services Committee, and the Labor Committee, in addition to Utilities. MZHD wanted to honor Sam Smiths’ contribution to the Central District and the City of Seattle by naming the community room: “The Sam Smith Community Room.”
Wallace D. Johnson Viewpoint
Wallace Johnson is a USAF veteran whose formal college and university education is in Business Administration. He has worked in private industry, municipal government, State Agency, and non-profit organizations. His work experiences include sales, major capital procurement, financial services for educational non-profit organizations, and municipal government. He has additional experience in major construction contracting for nuclear power plants, airport construction, and construction contracting for marine transportation facilities.
Wallace also served as president of the Washington State Advisory Council for vocational Education and worked with the advisory committee on fund development at the Evans School of Business, University of Washington.
He was president of the Northwest Baptist Federal Credit Union for several years, and manager of the Construction Contracts Administration Group for the Port of Seattle until retirement.
He received a BS degree in Business Administration from Arkansas AM&N College, (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), an MBA in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing from University of Washington School of Business, and a Certificate of Completion, Stanford Executive Program (SEP): Managing the total enterprise, from Stanford University School of Business.
Wallace Johnson serves as the current President of MZHD. MZHD wanted to honor Wallace Johnson for his long-term vision for the organization as well as his long-time commitment and contribution to Mount Zion Baptist Church and to the community of Seattle by naming the roof top deck: “The Wallace D. Johnson Viewpoint.”