Wallis Farm

The Cobb Land Trust took possession of a piece of property adjacent to acreage that Cobb County purchased with green space funds.

The small hill on the county's property was home to a signal tower used by the Union Army as they approached Atlanta. It provided the Union Army with a clear view of the largest obstacle in their path - Kennesaw Mountain. This hill was endangered by nearby subdivision development until alert citizens of the area organized to seek a better solution.

UPDATE 8-2-2021

The boundary expansion for Kennesaw Mountain NBP (National Battlefield Park) passed the Senate. The work of Cobb Land Trust, the Georgia Civil War Commission, and Cobb County began more than 19 years ago, with the purchase of the house and property almost exactly 17 years ago Many people have supported the saving of this valuable historic resource.

May 12, 2021 was the closing date for the final transfer of this property from the Trust to the National Park Service.

Through negotiations with the developer and the cooperation of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, The Cobb Land Trust was given a 1.1 acre parcel of land. The county purchased a 5.5 acre parcel of land with green space funds designated by the state of Georgia. Both have offered their property to the National Park Service to be used in conjunction with the neighboring battlefield park.

Developer Robert Harris Homes developed a 10-space parking lot on the CLT property, to facilitate access to the historic area. The entrance to their new Wallis Farm subdivision will separate the passive park from another historic site- the Wallis House.

The Wallis House, built between 1835 and 1836, stands about a mile from the Kennesaw National Battlefield, near Burnt Hickory Road and Barrett Parkway. In this house Union General O. O. Howards made his headquarters. A Georgia historical marker outside the home states:

"June 19-22, 1864 Following the withdrawal of Johnston's forces from the Mud Creek-Brushy Mtn. line, June 19, to the final one, which included Kennesaw Mtn., Howard's 4th A.C moved E. from Hardee's salient. Astride this, the Burnt Hickory rd., the corps advanced toward Kennesaw until halted by a counter-attack from the mtn. An intrenched position was established at the York house, one mile E. which line was later occupied by the 15th Corps of the Army of the Tennessee."

The Wallis House served both Union and Confederate troops, as both headquarters and hospital. John Cissell, superintendent of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, hopes to add the house to the park property. It would be restored to it's Civil War state. If the house is acquired, a sidewalk along Burnt Hickory would connect the property to the already existing passive park. For more information about battles in the area, go to the Kolb Farm Coalition page of this site.