Odessa Tritt Lassiter (1880-1948) was a strong role model in the East Cobb community. Odessa Tritt was born in East Cobb, and she lived on the Tritt property for much of her life. She lived in Cobb County until her death in 1948.
 Odessa Tritt Lassiter about 1910 | Odessa Tritt married Henry Lassiter, and they had one son together in 1901. Tragically their son John died while just an infant. A few years later in 1905, Henry Lassiter passed away from illness. Odessa never remarried, and in her will, she gave her properties to her nephews, Norris Tritt and his brother James Tritt. Norris Tritt received from his Aunt Odessa the 80 acres on Roswell Road, which is the now called the Tritt property located next to East Cobb Park. Interesting to note, the original 80 acres willed to Norris included all of East Cobb Park too! The Tritts sold that land to the Bowles who sold the land to Cobb County as the most popular park around. |
One unique feature of Odessa's will was the trees should not be cut down. She wrote the trees of the Tritt property should always be preserved: Odessa’s will stipulated “No timber is to be cut off of either place except for building and repairs on these farms.” This was part of Odessa Tritt Lassiter’s legacy to her family.
Item 3 from the will of Odessa Tritt Lassiter, "No timber is to be cut off of either place except for building and repairs on these farms."
Odessa Tritt Lassiter, being a progressive woman at the time, was a fur buyer for Rich's (now known as Macy's) in Atlanta. She worked there for many years. She loved to travel, and she visited many places in her lifetime. She very much loved her family, her community, and her church. We can see that in her progressive ideas to save the trees for future generations.
Odessa Tritt Lassiter working at Rich's in Downtown Atlanta
When Norris Tritt inherited the land in 1948 from his Aunt Odessa Tritt Lassiter, it was still 80 acres. Norris Tritt sold some of his land to the Bowles family, who in turn sold their land to the Friends for East Cobb Park in 2001; this was the first 13 acres of East Cobb Park. East Cobb Park, according to Cobb County, "has become one of the most heavily used parks in our system."
In 1950, Norris and Wylene Tritt moved onto the Tritt property, and the Tritt's honored Odessa's wish in how they built their current home. Wylene Tritt said 'the wood that framed the current house was sawed right from the trees on the property'.
The original barn from the time when Odessa Tritt Lassiter lived on the property still stands as a testament to a simpler time, when people rode in horse-drawn carriages and farmed the land.
In 1950, Norris and Wylene Tritt moved onto the Tritt property, and the Tritt's honored Odessa's wish in how they built their current home. Wylene Tritt said 'the wood that framed the current house was sawed right from the trees on the property'.
The original barn from the time when Odessa Tritt Lassiter lived on the property still stands as a testament to a simpler time, when people rode in horse-drawn carriages and farmed the land.
The historical barn was built over 100 years ago (click for Around Town article page 58-61)
Community Barn Raising: The barn was built in the late 1800s by Delk, Tritt, Lassiter, Sewells, and Bishop families and other members of the East Cobb community. The barn still stands to this day!
The Tritt Property deed history after the Sewells bought the property in 1840 from owners of the original 1832 Gold Land Lottery
Jackson Delk was the brother of Emily Delk (1823-1891), who was the wife of William Tritt (1820-1906), and these were the great-grandparents of Norris Tritt; in fact, William Tritt and Emily Delk are the ancestors of all the Tritt family in Cobb County. Jackson Delk owned the land until his death in 1897, and then it was inherited by his son John Delk, who moved to Texas and sold the land to his brother Robert Delk in 1907. Robert Delk in turn sold the land to his first cousin David Tritt in 1916. David Tritt sold the land in 1917 to his niece, Odessa Tritt Lassiter, who owned the land until her death in 1948.
Part of the vision for the Tritt property, besides saving greenspace, is to have a place to preserve the history of East Cobb and all the families who first settled here and were so prominent in making East Cobb what it is today.
East Cobb has a rich legacy and history we feel is important to save and pass on to future generations before those stories fade away. Just as Roswell and Marietta have retained their historical identities, we also want East Cobb to do the same.
We can compile stories and pictures from families to create a place where our history isn't forgotten. Let us know if you would like your family story told from the early days of Cobb County. Email [email protected] to get in touch with us.
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