North of Vogel Lake in the North Georgia Mountains, Highway 129 carved out of the mountainside, is the home of Byron Herbert Reece. The buildings now standing relate to part of his life.
Reece was a respected poet and novelist of Georgia, and won many literary honors both nationally and statewide. He was strongly moved by the old mountain folk ballads. His stimulation in poetry (at an early age) came mostly from the Bible. He was a farmer and poet who taught at Young Harris College.
The above photo is known as a Double Crib Barn, found on Appalachian farms from Kentucky to Arkansas. The barn had a number of cribs that served as storage for fodder, or pens for cattle, mules, and pigs.
This is a photo of Byron Herbert Reece shucking corn in the field.
The above three photos are the Poetry Trail located at the Reece Heritage Center. You'll find Reece's verse carved in stone and may sit on a bench and reflect on his poetry.
This is the Mulberry Hall where Byron Herbert Reece wrote. He built this writing studio and would muse and write here.
This is young Byron Herbert Reece composing poetry in his writing studio.
Corn cribs were used to store and dry corn still on the cob.
Bags of cornmeal after the corn was ground.
Smokehouses were a necessity before refrigeration and every farm had one.
The chicken coop had a small fenced in area to shelter chickens and contained nesting boxes.
This was the kitchen where the mountain women cooked on a wood stove.
The Welcome Center at the Byron Herbert Reece Farm and Heritage Center.
To contact the Reece Center:
Call: (706)-745-2034
E-mail: reecesociety@gmail.com
www.ByronHerbertReeceSociety.org
