Near Blairsville in Union County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Byron Herbert Reece
(1917-1958)
Photographed By David Seibert, July 3, 2010
1. Byron Herbert Reece Marker
Renowned Appalachian poet, novelist, and farmer, Byron Herbert Reece lived most of his life near this site. Here he composed, to critical acclaim, four volumes of poetry and two novels, Better a Dinner of Herbs and The Hawk and the Sun. Reece was a five-time recipient of the Georgia Writers Association’s literary achievement award and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in poetry for Bow Down in Jericho. He served as poet-in-residence at the University of California at Los Angeles, Emory University, and Young Harris College. Suffering from tuberculosis, Reece took his own life three months before his forty-first birthday. He is buried in Old Union Cemetery near Young Harris.
Erected 2006 by Georgia Historical Society, the Byron Herbert Reece Society, Union County Government, Union County Historical Society, and Young Harris College. (Marker Number 144-1.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Arts, Letters, Music
this page online
Location. 34° 46.862′ N, 83° 54.581′ W. Marker is near Blairsville, Georgia, in Union County. Marker is on Gainesville Highway (U.S. 19/129) 0.8 miles north of Georgia Route 180, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Blairsville GA 30512, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Appalachian Trail in North Georgia (approx. 3.2 miles away); Blood Mountain (approx. 3.2 miles away); Hogpen Gap (approx. 5˝ miles away); Souther Mill (approx. 7 miles away); Union County War Memorial (approx. 7 miles away); Union County (approx. 7.1 miles away); Union County Georgia War Memorial (approx. 7.1 miles away); Union County Honor Roll World War I (approx. 7.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blairsville.
Also see . . . Byron Herbert Reece. New Georgia Encyclopedia website entry (Submitted on July 30, 2010, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia.)
Photographed By David Seibert, July 3, 2010
2. Byron Herbert Reece Marker
Looking north on US Highway 19/129 toward Blairsville
Photographed By David Seibert, July 3, 2010
3. Byron Herbert Reece Marker
Looking south on US 19/129 toward Blood Mountain and the Byron Herbert Reece Access Trail, which leads to the Appalachian Trail.
Photographed By David Seibert, July 3, 2010
4. Byron Herbert Reece Home
The Reece Home, where Reece lived with his parents, is being restored by the Byron Herbert Reece Society as a Visitors' Center.
Photographed By David Seibert, July 3, 2010
5. Byron Herbert Reece Home
The rear of the Reece Home, facing US Highway 19/129
Photographed By David Seibert, July 3, 2010
6. Byron Herbert Reece Home
The barn and corncrib at the Byron Herbert Reece home.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2010, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,248 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 29, 2010, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
