Tomee Park renamed Chief Concomly Park

Following the City Council’s naming of the property located off of Seely Lane as Tomee Park on April 2nd, staff completed research on Tomee in order to draft language for an informational plaque to be featured at the Park. Karen Holmberg, of the Scappoose Historical Society and Duke Smith, of the Columbia County Historical Society generously provided time and historical materials to aid in this research. The results of this process revealed a significant amount of conflicting information; all sources, with the exception of James Loring Watts’ History of Scappoose where she is referred to as Tomee, either spell her name Timmee, Timee or have omitted her name entirely, citing a lack of proof that her name was Tomee, Timmee, Timee or any variation thereof. City Staff presented this information to Council on May 7th for their review and discussion. 

After consideration of the potential for historical inaccuracy with regards to the name Tomee Park, City Council adopted Resolution 18-09, renaming the park to Chief Concomly Park on May 21st. Chief Concomly (estimated to have lived from 1765 To 1830), was the Chief of the Chinook Tribe at the time that Thomas McKay settled in Scappoose. He was very well respected by both Native Americans and settlers along the lower Columbia River region which was home to the Chinook Indian tribe. Chief Concomly’s daughter Timmee (also referred to as Timee and Tomee) was Thomas McKay’s first wife and they had three children together. City Council felt that naming this park after Chief Concomly was an important way of celebrating and recognizing the rich Native American history of the Scappoose area.