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Mysterious Fan Marks Poe's Birthday
Associated Press ^ | Wed, Jan 19, 2005 | KASEY JONES

Posted on 01/19/2005 5:52:04 AM PST by presidio9

BALTIMORE - The mystery man was dressed for the cold rather than tradition, and some spectators were not quite as respectful as in years past. But for the 56th year, a man stole into a locked graveyard early on Edgar Allan Poe's birthday and placed three roses and a half-empty bottle of cognac on the writer's grave.

Jeff Jerome, curator of the Poe House and Museum, who has seen the mysterious visitor every Jan. 19 since 1976, gathered with about 20 people Tuesday night to glimpse the ritual.

"It was absolutely frigid," Jerome said of the sub-20 degree temperature.

No one, not even Jerome, knows the identity of the so-called "Poe Toaster." The visit was first documented in 1949, a century after Poe's death.

This year, the visitor arrived at 1:10 a.m. in a heavy coat and obscured his face with a black pullover, Jerome said. He was not wearing the traditional white scarf and black hat.

"He put the roses and cognac at the base of Poe's grave and put his hand on top of the (tomb) stone. He paused and put his head down," the museum curator said. He left after about five minutes, Jerome said.

The visitor's three roses are believed to honor Poe, his mother-in-law and his wife, all of whom are buried in the graveyard. The significance of the cognac is unknown.

People who stand vigil usually respect the visitor's desire for anonymity, which, along with the visitor's quick moves and the cover of darkness, have kept his secret well.

But this time, some spectators "created a nuisance," Jerome said. Some entered the locked cemetery; others confronted Jerome after the stranger had departed and demanded that he reveal his identity.

For decades, a frail figure made the visit to Poe's grave. But in 1993 the original visitor left a cryptic note saying, "The torch will be passed." A later note said the man, who apparently died in 1998, had passed the tradition on to his sons.

Poe, who wrote poems and horror stories such as "The Raven" and "The Telltale Heart," died Oct. 7, 1849 in Baltimore at the age of 40 after collapsing in a tavern.

Bethany Dinger, 32, first became fascinated with the writer while doing volunteer work at the Poe House in high school. Wednesday was her third time watching the ritual.

"It's always amazing — you know it's going to happen and then it's just wow, he's here," she said. "We're just so in the moment — there's no talking" while the visitor pays homage.

___


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: edgarallanpoe; nevermore; poetoaster
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To: presidio9

I also read that Poe uses the largest vocabulary of any well known writer.


21 posted on 01/19/2005 7:14:27 AM PST by Shanda
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To: presidio9

Too bad that in our PC and watered down school curriculums Poe's brilliant poetry has been too often abandoned for tripe like Maya Angelou.


22 posted on 01/19/2005 7:30:06 AM PST by The Great RJ
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To: Frapster

The visitor himself already spoiled the tradition, by leaving an inane note in 2001 about Baltimore Ravens football.


23 posted on 01/19/2005 7:37:29 AM PST by SedVictaCatoni (<><)
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Poe was an alcoholic, but of cheap booze that eventually helped kill him.
There are some spooky catacombs beneath the church where he is buried, Poe would have loved it.
Baltimore has the ravens as a football team, but the bird is a staple in many neighborhoods. Smart, interesting and daring I can see why Poe was fascinated by them
24 posted on 01/19/2005 7:42:40 AM PST by catonsville
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To: catonsville
In a related story...
25 posted on 01/19/2005 7:49:14 AM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does)
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To: CrazyIvan

Nemo me impune lacessit.


26 posted on 01/19/2005 7:56:16 AM PST by ElTianti
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To: ElTianti

"For the love of God, Montressor!"


27 posted on 01/19/2005 8:06:56 AM PST by NaughtiusMaximus (Their women give good lamentation, maybe we can conquer them again sometime.)
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To: The Great RJ

stretch...The Old Geezer here:

"while I ponder, weak and weary, ore many a volume of quaint and forgotten lore. Suddenly, there came a rapping; as of someone gently tapping; tapping at my chamber door; tis the wind I said; nothing more.... Hope I remembered this correctly. I have a book of his stories, but can't find it at this moment because it is packed away after a move...


28 posted on 01/19/2005 8:11:18 AM PST by Stretch (Rats, skunks, bugs and other vermin protect their babies; Liberals kill theirs)
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To: SedVictaCatoni

The only thing I can find is a note about being reluctant to place French cognac on the grave.

http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20040119-100633-6879r.htm

A quick Google didn't yield anything else to support your claim.


29 posted on 01/19/2005 8:28:43 AM PST by Frapster (the ice age cometh!)
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To: presidio9

the crowd should leave poor Jerome alone and go tackle the stranger, hold him down and see if he was a wallet. how hard can this be?


30 posted on 01/19/2005 8:36:29 AM PST by isom35
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To: Frapster

A "quick Google" yielded these:

http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20040119-100633-6879r.htm

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1060989/posts

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/4971661.htm

http://knowingpoe.thinkport.org/library/news/toaster.asp

http://www.100megsfree4.com/farshores/npoe.htm

http://www.detnews.com/2001/lions/0101/20/

http://www.polkonline.com/stories/012001/spo_the-raven.shtml

http://bizneworleans.com/109+M5722027b6bf.html

http://www.thehollandsentinel.net/stories/012001/new_10.html

http://www.ljworld.com/section/archive/story/158631


31 posted on 01/19/2005 8:44:03 AM PST by SedVictaCatoni (<><)
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To: SedVictaCatoni

lol - thanks. i am the worlds worst googler. ;-)


32 posted on 01/19/2005 8:55:51 AM PST by Frapster (the ice age cometh!)
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To: presidio9
The significance of the cognac is unknown.

Poe was--duh--a writer. They all drink.

I'd guess someone left a trust fund to pay some law firm's clerk to do this every year.

33 posted on 01/19/2005 8:57:36 AM PST by Petronski (Alles klar, Herr Kommissar?)
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To: Petronski
I'd guess someone left a trust fund to pay some law firm's clerk to do this EVERMORE!
34 posted on 01/19/2005 8:58:24 AM PST by Petronski (Alles klar, Herr Kommissar?)
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To: Petronski
I'd guess someone left a trust fund to pay some law firm's clerk to do this every year.

You're probably right - a cynic - but you're probably right.

35 posted on 01/19/2005 9:07:00 AM PST by ladyjane
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To: RadioAstronomer; RightWingAtheist; Tax-chick; Xenalyte; MississippiMalcontent
Bibliopath ping.
36 posted on 01/19/2005 10:10:14 AM PST by Physicist
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To: Stretch
"Let my heart be still a moment, and this mystery explore.
" 'Tis the wind, and nothing more."

sw

37 posted on 01/19/2005 10:27:27 AM PST by spectre (Spectre's wife)
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To: Physicist

Thanks!


38 posted on 01/19/2005 10:31:38 AM PST by RightWingAtheist (Marxism-the creationism of the left)
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To: Physicist

Cool.


39 posted on 01/19/2005 2:23:06 PM PST by Tax-chick (Happy Birthday to General Lee and James R.)
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To: presidio9

All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream.


40 posted on 01/19/2005 2:39:19 PM PST by Shanda
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