James J. O'Connell

  Research Notes:

Story of Coleman / O'Connell Store:
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"The biggest new in St. Thomas this week, this month, even this year is... The old Coleman / O'Connell store building adorns our Main Street no more. The two-story building, built by John Ronan and sold to John Coleman, once a post office and general store on the first floor and a dancehall upstairs on the second floor, was leveled by Aufderhar Construction this week. From the home of James and Agnes Brown O'Connell and their family Tom, Mary Ellen and Dick, to O'Connell's Oil, Regan's, then finally "Kay's Place", the building also carried a bit of Minnesota state history as the birthplace of Nick Coleman , Sr., one time Senate Majority Leader and father of St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, was born upstairs before the O'Connell's lived in the building.

James O'Connell gook over the store business from his father, Dave O'Connell, who farmed South of St. Thomas and bought the building in 1914 from Dave Coleman. Dave was the son of the first general store operator in St. Thomas, John Coleman, who came to Minnesota in 1855 and set up shop. James J. O'Connell bought the place in 1938 and sold general merchandise, hardware and gas at the pump in front.

That same year, James J. O'Connell started distributing bulk gas and fuel oil and while James built the oil business, Aggie ran the Store with the help of Tom, Mary Ellen and Dick. They got to know the folks who frequented the store. The experience taught them much; including math skills, local history, and good social skills. Groceries like fresh milk, eggs, bread, and a place to socialize where provided. Aggie always wore a dress and apron and had something cooking or baking in the back kitchen.

Folks would stop and have a beer and J.J. O'Connell's set up license allowed them to bring their own liquor and add it to the mixes at the bar. The place was open 7 days a week, 8AM to 10PM. Tom married Sharon in 1957, Mary Ellen married Dean. In 1960, Aggie experienced a fatal heart attack behind the counter, there at the bottom of the stairs that ran the width of the building in the rear of the store. Her death rocked St. Thomas. Everybody knew and loved Aggie.

In 1961, O'Connell Oil was formed. Tom and Dick took over, built an office building west of the store. They delivered fuel, fertilizer, and LP gas. James and son Dick lived upstairs for a while, then James remarried and Dick married Carol Jean.

Irish to the core and a local farmer, Jimmy Regan, ran the store through the 70's. Jimmy, St. Thomas born and raised with wit, humor and non-stop teasing, knew everyone in the country, opened at 8AM and closed at 11PM, until he passed away in 1979.

Mary Kay Sullivan Halloran took over managing the store with the help of her husband Donnie. Once again, customers could smell meals cooking in slow cookers or the oven in back. Kay was a bigger-than-life character, a real nonsense lady. She loved fun, had a big heart and a little dog. St. Thomas could not have gotten any more Irish, but Kay decorated the place with shamrocks and leprechauns, with Kay it became a party place. There are many more Kay's Place stories out there. When she passed in January of 1995, the store was closed, leaving a big void on the St. Thomas social scene for many years... and many Kay's Place stories. Our St. Thomas Church is the heart of our St. Thomas community, and this store was located mighty close.

The lower slats of the hardwood floor curve down to the middle of the floor, probably from too much dancing and jiggin'. If those walls could have talked... They witnessed birth, death, tears, dancing, singing, family love and a few customer arguments, to be sure."

Notes about Coleman / O'Connell Store, written in New Prague Times (St Thomas column) by Loni Graham, July 24, 2014. Contributed by: P.Mahowald



Family links:
Parents:
David T O'Connell (1870 - 1952)
Margaret Doherty O'Connell (1872 - 1947)

Spouse:
Agatha Brown O'Connell (1908 - 1960)*

Children:
Thomas O'Connell (1939 - 2010)*

Siblings:
Alice M O'Connell Anderson (1899 - 1986)*
Ann M O'Connell Burns (1902 - 1996)*
James J O'Connell (1913 - 1967)
Dorothy Helen O'Connell McCabe (1917 - 2002)*

*Calculated relationship

Note: (Age 54 yrs)

Burial:
Saint Thomas Cemetery
Saint Thomas
Le Sueur County
Minnesota, USA
Plot: East

Find A Grave Memorial# 104209309

James Oconnell
United States Social Security Death Index
Age 54
Given Name James
Surname Oconnell
Birth Date 06 Feb 1913
State Minnesota
Last Place of Residence Scott, Minnesota
Previous Residence Postal Code 55379
Event Date Oct 1967

James married Sarah Agetha Brown, daughter of Maurice Henry Brown and Margaret E. Regan, in Aug 1933. (Sarah Agetha Brown was born on 13 Oct 1908 in Derrynane Town, Le Sueur, Minnesota, died on 28 Jul 1960 in Minnesota, United States and was buried in Saint Thomas Cemetery, Le Sueur County, Minnesota.)