Omaha Exploration

On the southeast corner of 66th and Pacific Street near Aksarben Village sits an old farmhouse that dates back more than 100 years. The house, located across the street from Elmwood Park Golf Course at 6547 Pacific Street was originally part of the Jensen farm that stretched from 64th to 66th Streets and from Pacific to Poppleton Ave.

While I wasn’t able to find the exact date that it was built, it would appear that John J. Swan would move into the farmhouse with his wife Ella and two sons in 1917. John immigrated from his native Sweden where he studied art and became an apprentice painter at the age of 12. Born in 1887, John would settle in Omaha in 1907.

By 1911 he started his own business, Swan Painting and Decorating Company, when he was just 23 years old. The house and garage served as his residence and workshop while he maintained an office downtown at 1818 1/2 Harney Street.

Always looking to improve his skills, John traveled to Europe in 1921 to research and study the best and most artistic interior and exterior painting methods. After returning home, he painted a house at 517 S 51st Ave called the Omaha World-Herald bungalow. The house was a promotion on the part of the newspaper and was given to the person that suggested the best title for a picture that was exhibited at its annual show. The contest attracted a lot of attention and no doubt, earned a lot of publicity for John who stated that he did it to show off what he could do.

In addition to painting and decorating many fine residences and businesses around town, John went on to serve as the president of Omaha Master Painters Association and Omaha chapter of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America. Unfortunately, his health began to decline and suffered a long illness before passing away in 1938 at the age of 51. While his son John Jr. continued the business, the family sold the house.

The Swan house was purchased by Estle E. Jones. Shortly afterwards, the farmland was divided into lots and sold. Houses began being built starting in the 1940s and continued through 1950s likely driven by the return of the baby boomers at the conclusion of World War II. The house appears to have remained in the hands of Jones family until 1987.

Richard Klaas of Omaha Interiors & Design became its third owner that year. He and his partner are likely responsible for much of its current aesthetic. They added on to the house and added a large living room with fireplace, formal dining room along with a breakfast nook, kitchen and a large bathroom with a fireplace of its own. After 14 years, he sold the house to Ramona Hunt.

Its current owner, LeAnne Crocker, bought the house in 2011 and also did some major renovations. Today the location of the foyer is where the main living area used to while the former entryway was turned into an office and a first-floor bedroom was converted into the kitchen. The second floor contains the main bedroom as well as a smaller second bedroom. The three-car garage has a second-floor apartment that is rented to travelling nurses. On the outside of the house, she did extensive landscaping work including the addition of a patio and firepit.

The Swan house at 6547 Pacific Street stands out among its peers on this stretch of road. While it no longer resembles the old farmhouse from more than a century ago, its still there along with the original oak wood floors. The current owner looking to downsize listed it for sale in October 2024.

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Until next time, keep exploring!

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