The Sheely Packing Company was located at South 27th Avenue and Martha Street in South Omaha, Nebraska

South Omaha, Nebraska

South Omaha, Nebraska is a former city and current district of Omaha, Nebraska. During its initial development phase the town's nickname was "The Magic City" because of the seemingly overnight growth due to the rapid development of the Union Stockyards. Annexed by the City of Omaha in 1915, the...

. The plant was the namesake of the surrounding Sheelytown neighborhood, which was predominately Polish, with many other immigrants as well. It was the first substantial meatpacking operation in Omaha, preceded the founding of the city's large meatpacking industry.

History

Founded by former South Omaha fire chief Joseph Sheely, the Sheely Packing Company was established when Sheely bought the stockyards that were established by David Cook in 1871. It was January 1880. Joseph was one of the incorporators of the Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha

Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha

The South Omaha Terminal Railway in Omaha, Nebraska was a subsidiary of the Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha. Until the separate railroad company was created in July 1927, the trackage, about , was owned and operated directly by the Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha...

 in the 1870s. His packing plant sat on the new South Omaha Terminal Railway

South Omaha Terminal Railway

The South Omaha Terminal Railway in Omaha, Nebraska was a subsidiary of the Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha. Until the separate railroad company was created in July 1927, the trackage, about , was owned and operated directly by the Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha...

, southeast of Hanscom Park

Hanscom Park

Hanscom Park is a historic neighborhood in Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. Its namesake public park is one of the oldest parks in Omaha, donated to the City in 1872. U.S. President Gerald R. Ford was born in a house in the Hanscom Park neighborhood...

. Sheely's company processed 15,000 hogs annually until his plant burnt down in 1886.