Historical

    The land on which the Village of Odessa sits was originally part of the Watkins-Flint land purchase John W. Watkins and Royal Flint and associates of New York City, in 1794, following an application to the New York Commissioners of the Land-Office in 1791. The 200 acres Odessa was laid out on was originally given to Phineas Catlin Sr. for military service.
The following is a timeline of major events in Odessa History.

1801 - R.C Johnson built first building - A Grist Mill on Catlin Creek. Was later bought by Phineas Catlin Jr., torn down and rebuilt in 1837
1836- John Foster built a building on the site of Odessa House and part of that building is incorporated into the current building.
1837- Phineas Catlin Jr. built the first sawmill on Catlin Creek.
1839-The village was surveyed by John Foster. The unincorporated village was then known as Catlin Mills.
1841- Freewill Baptist Church formed.
1845- Name changed to Odessa by prominent Odessa businessman John I. Lawrence and John Foster with the blessing of Phineas Catlin. It is unknown why they picked that name.
1850's- First school was a log cabin located in the area of Speedway. Shortly after was moved to 2nd location on Church Street just north of the old Baptist on the west side of street (currently a private residence).
1854- Schuyler County formed. Odessa was in five counties previously before Schuyler was formed due to changing boundary lines. They were Tryon (1772), Albany (1776), Montgomery (1784), Tioga (1791) and Chemung (1836).
1855- First Post Office. Joseph L. Darling appointed first postmaster May 24th 1855.
1856- First Church Built (Baptist Church).
1872- Phineas Catlin Jr. Saw Mill burned - rebuilt.
1875 - School moved to College Ave. near current location of High School.
1876 - (October 23rd) - Large fire on the south side of Main Street destroyed four building including 2 stores, a barn and a residence.
1877- Odessa became a "dry" town until after the repeal of prohibition.
1878- A great storm washed out Mill Pond Dam and the Mill St. bridge over Catlin Creek.
1884- First telephone poles/lines installed and phone switchboard in Montgomery Store.
1892 - (Feb 7th)- Lehigh Valley Railroad track laid and depot completed.
1903- Odessa incorporated as a Village.
1905- A fire hand pumper, hose cart, a ladder and some hose was purchased.
1905- First horse races on Mitchell Farm. Speedway is named after the horse track. Previously that street was known as the Boulevard.
1908- Union School officially established and a 2nd story addition added to school.
1910- Odessa Hose & Chemical Company (Odessa Fire Department). Incorporated on May 4th.
1910- Electric lights replaced kerosene lanterns for street lighting.
1911- Odessa cemetery graves moved from Main Street to Laurel Hill Cemetery.
1912- Odessa Opera House built (Village Offices & Fire Department) on site of former cemetery.
1912- State road built from Montour to Alpine utilizing Main Street including the addition of sidewalks.
1926- Village purchased first motorized fire truck.
1928- Fire on Main Street destroyed 2 buildings.
1938 - Odessa water system built utilizing spring water from the Magee fish ponds on Mecklenburg Road.
1946- Lehigh Valley passenger service discontinued in Odessa. Freight business continued.
1961 - The large Cotton Hanlon retail store located just south of the village was completely destroyed by fire in August. This is considered the largest fire ever to occur in the area.
1966- Large storage building owned by Cotton-Hanlon burned on Railroad Avenue.
1968- The Village Hall & Fire House (Opera House) was condemned by NYS State.
1970- New Village Hall & Fire House built. Old Village Hall torn down.
1976- A large fire heavily damaged the Agway store on Railroad Avenue.
1976- Lehigh Valley railroad goes bankrupt. Tracks abandoned and eventually removed.
2000- The water system was upgraded an redesigned.
2003- The Village of Odessa celebrated it's 100th anniversary since it's incorporation.
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