Odessa in Ector County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Odessa Land & Townsite Company
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, July 10, 2015
1. Odessa Land & Townsite Company Marker
Inscription.
Odessa Land and Townsite Company. . The Texas and Pacific Railroad transferred 640 acres of its land grants here in 1886 to John Hoge of Zanesville, Ohio. He formed the Odessa Land and Townsite Company to promote sale of town lots. Prime house lots sold for $150 and business lots for $200. Literature was distributed in eastern states citing rich soil, pure water, healthful climate, and no saloons in Odessa. The company and railroad sponsored excursion trains with free sleeping cars for prospective buyers form 1886 to 1889. A small frame building on this site, razed in 1911, served as the land office, and later as a school and church.
The Texas & Pacific Railroad transferred 640 acres of its land grants here in 1886 to John Hoge of Zanesville, Ohio. He formed the Odessa Land & Townsite Company to promote sale of town lots. Prime house lots sold for $150 and business lots for $200. Literature was distributed in eastern states citing rich soil, pure water, healthful climate, and no saloons in Odessa. The company and railroad sponsored excursion trains with free sleeping cars for prospective buyers form 1886 to 1889. A small frame building on this site, razed in 1911, served as the land office, and later as a school and church.
Erected 1986 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3667.)
Location. 31° 50.768′ N, 102° 22.109′ W. Marker is in Odessa, Texas, in Ector County. Marker is on North Grant Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 205 North Grant Avenue, Odessa TX 79761, United States of America. Touch for directions.
4. Odessa Land & Townsite Company Marker (in center)
The Odessa Telephone Exchange Marker (on left) and Site of Livery Stable and Wagon Yard Marker (on right)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 415 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 17, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
