Home of Whitney Montgomery, Poet

Montgomery and his wife Vaida published a poetry magazine from Dallas for thirty years. The Handbook of Texas says The Kaleidoscope began in May 1929, became The Kaleidograph in 1932 to avoid confusion with a New York title, and favored short rhymed verse and unknown writers. Grace Noll Crowell was its first contributor and subscriber. Circulation peaked near 2,000, with readers in every state and several foreign countries. The magazine ended in 1959 with Vaida Montgomery's death. Both Montgomerys belonged to the Poetry Society of Texas.

What the plaque says

Home of Whitney Montgomery, Poet (1877-1966) Born in Navarro County in white-columned house across pasture south of this site. Began to write poetry when he was 15 years old. Author of more than 500 published poems which appeared in many major magazines; won numerous poetry prizes. Moved to Dallas, 1927. Was editor and publisher of "Kaleidograph" Magazine and Press. Helped to organize and was vice president of the Poetry Society of Texas. His home was honored in this poem. Incise in base: Erected by the family of Whitney Montgomery, 1967

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Petroleum Industry Park — 12 mi
  The pipes and drilling tower mark where a city water well struck oil on June 9, 1894, the start of the first Texas field to produce oil and gas in important quantities.
• Blind Lemon Memorial Cemetery — 18 mi
  The Freestone County grave of the Texas blues singer Blind Lemon Jefferson, who recorded for Paramount in Chicago from 1926 and died there in December 1929.

More markers nearby

• Eureka Cemetery — 1.4 mi
• Hopewell Cemetery — 4.3 mi
• Hopewell Baptist Church — 5.3 mi
• Air Activities of Texas, Corsicana Field — 6.3 mi