In the history of North Omaha, there have been a lot of people who transformed the community. Some were professionals, others workers, and many were parents. One businessman was so important to the growth and development that a newspaper declared his name synonymous with North Omaha. This is a biography of B.J. Scannell (1861-1960).

Early Life

In the early 1870s, an 11-year-old named Bartholomew Joseph Scannell moved to Omaha with his Irish immigrant parents after they landed in Massachusetts, where he was born. As a young man in pioneer-era Omaha, he was a clerk for William A. Paxton Sr. (1837–1907), a business magnate in the young city. Eventually becoming a private secretary and business manager for Paxton, he was also secretary to John A. McShane (1850-1923) while he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1887 to 1889. He was also the secretary of the Paxton Real Estate Company, treasurer of the Paxton and Vierling Iron Works, and treasurer of the American Land and Cattle Company, all businesses owned by William Sr.

Prairie Park Addition

In early 1908, Scannell worked along with his old boss’s son to buy a large area located north of Ames between 25th Avenue and 27th Street. Focused on building new houses “of a uniform high grade,” the real estate speculators were “restrained from preventing the development of the district.” Their subdivision was named the Prairie Park Addition. Also helping construct a social club for the neighborhood, Scannell kept his home at 2703 Fowler Avenue for 50 years. Located in the northwest corner of his neighborhood, Scannell’s house was a local beacon for residents.

Other Influences

In 1959, he was celebrated in the Benson Sun as being synonymous with North Omaha. Along with developing the Prairie Park neighborhood and building many of the homes there, in the article Scannell was credited with “undying efforts and untiring work” that led to “many of the streets, buildings and landmarks of North Omaha came into existence.” He also built the Prairie Park Club.

He was credited with securing the locations for the fourth Saratoga School, North High, Ames Avenue Post Office, Holy Angels Catholic Church, North Side Bank, and the Safeway at 30th and Ames. A main investor in the redevelopment of the 30th and Ames commercial district after World War I, he built the Beacon Theater and the Kenwood Drug Company building that still stands in 2025. He was also key to widening North 30th Street, getting Ames Avenue extended and paved, and was involved with getting the Mormon Bridge constructed. Scannell organized the North Omaha Commercial Club, too.

Either prescient or highly influential, as late as 1950 he was still writing public screeds calling for changes that would come to pass, including the widening of Ames Avenue from North 25th Street to Military Avenue; the paving of North 27th into Miller Park; and the extension of River Drive north from the Mormon Bridge to Ponca Creek.

Scannell remained an active advocate for the community long after his retirement. In 1950, at the age of 86, he wrote an extensive letter to a local newspaper to advocate for the continued development of the North Omaha community he loved.

When he died in 1961, B.J. Scannell was 98-years-old. He was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery with both of his spouses eventually joining nearby. His contributions to housing, business, civic infrastructure, and other public-minded works were largely forgotten and sometimes demolished without any recognition of him. The racism perpetuated through his company and beyond are still be rectified within Omaha in current times.

Today, there is nothing in Omaha to commemorate Scannell beyond his grave marker.

You Might Like…

• People from North Omaha History
• A History of Community Leaders in North Omaha
• A History of the Prairie Park Club

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