Crawfordville in Taliaferro County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Roselle Mercier Montgomery

Photographed By Tristan Budd, January 3, 2009

1. Roselle Mercier Montgomery Marker

Inscription. The renowned Georgia poetess, Roselle Mercier Montgomery, daughter of Col. William Nathaniel and Emma Smith Mercier, was born on this site in 1874. Educated at Washington Female Seminary and Mary Baldwin Seminary, she married distinguished N.Y. lawyer, J. Seymour Montgomery and lived in Conn. Her early death in 1933 cut short an outstanding career. Her famous poem, "Evening on a Village Street," was written about this corner in Crawfordville. Considered Georgia's best and one of America's finest poetesses, she is best known for her "Ulysses Returns" and "To Helen, Middle-Aged."

Erected 1956 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker Number 131-17.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Women. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location. 33° 33.294′ N, 82° 53.838′ W. Marker is in Crawfordville, Georgia, in Taliaferro County. Marker is at the intersection of Alexander Street and Commerce Street on Alexander Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Crawfordville GA 30631, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Taliaferro County World War I Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Crawfordville Confederate Memorial

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Taliaferro County World Wars Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Taliaferro County (about 300 feet away); The Common Road of the English Following Old Indian Trail (about 300 feet away); Crawfordville Methodist Church (about 500 feet away); Old Tavern Site (about 600 feet away); Site of Childhood Home of Richard Malcolm Johnston (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Crawfordville.

Additional commentary.
1. Evening on A Village Street
by Roselle Mercier Montgomery.

The sun flings lengthening shadows through the trees
That green the village street. They come to life,
The houses that have seemed to sleep all day.

The evening meal is over, dishes done,
And prim, trim women sit and rock and knit
Upon the porches, read the village news
Recorded in the paper, out today,
Or move about the yards to give their plants
Their evening watering, or chat across the hedge
With friendly neighbors on the other

Photographed By David Seibert, November 14, 2009

2. Roselle Mercier Montgomery Marker

Looking north on Alexander Street from US 278, with the marker on the left at Commerce Street

side,
Or swap rose-cuttings and geranium slips.

The men, shirt-sleeved, walk leisurely behind
Their lawn-mowers, or rake and sweep their paths,
Or tie their vines up to their trellises--
Small, pleasant tasks, with which they rest themselves
At evening, when their day of work is done.

The children call and shout there in the street,
Or play hide-and-seed from yard to yard.
And arm in arm young lovers stroll in pairs,
Bound for the moving-pictures in the square.

The sun has dropped, now, low, behind the hill--
The high, blue hill that rises to the west.
The dark leaps on; high up, a sudden star
Blooms out like some pale flower; a thin, young moon
Hangs like a silver string caught in the trees,
And in the houses lights begin to glow.

Here on the street another day is done--
So like the last day and the coming one--
So like this street to other village streets!
And yet the total of such days is -- Life,
The sum of streets like this -- America!

— Submitted January 14, 2009.

Photographed By David Seibert, November 14, 2009

3. Roselle Mercier Montgomery Marker

Taken from Alexander Street; the marker points west on Commerce Street

Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 12, 2009, by Tristan Budd of Kingsland, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,887 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 12, 2009, by Tristan Budd of Kingsland, Georgia. 2, 3. submitted on November 16, 2009, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.