Poe Toaster is 'Nevermore'

[many a good man]

No gift of cognac and roses left at poet's grave, ending decades-long tradition

A longtime tribute to Edgar Allan Poe may have come to an end with the absence of the "Poe Toaster," who for more than half a century has marked the poet's birthday by laying roses and a bottle of cognac at his original grave site.

This is the first time since Jan. 19, 1949 that the person, whose identity is unknown, failed to arrive, said Jeff Jerome, curator of the Edgar Allan Poe House.

"I was very annoyed," he said.

"I've been doing this since 1977, and there was no indication he wasn't going to show up," Jerome said.

The curator said the toaster usually arrives between midnight and 5:30 a.m. He said he arrived at Westminster Hall at 10:30 p.m., because one year the toaster left his offerings at 11:30 p.m.

He sometimes kneels at the tombstone or puts his hands on it, Jerome said. "There's no elaborate ceremony — it's very short and touching," he said.

more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/poe/bal-poe0119,0,2922653.story

[Captain Hilts]

1. Wow. I can't believe the Poe Toaster is gone. Someone needs to start this tradition

at Divine's grave in Baltimore.

[many a good man]

3. LOL! What gifts should be left for Divine?!

Roses and cognac don't seem right. I can think of a few things but won't post them here!

[HillbillyBob]

9. Yea my mind went down that same gutter

nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. Roses, a lipstick, and a bottle of sherry?

[HillbillyBob]

4. Thats true..its a bit far for me to go in the middle of the night

and what do you suggest we leave for him?

I can't remember what his/her fave drink was ..last time I met him it was long island ice tea.

[jobycom]

2. Damn this recession! Next year they will toss a plastic daisy and a bottle of Reunite on the tomb. n

[HillbillyBob]

5. Good one

ny

[Motown_Johnny]

6. Gosh, someone who has been doing this since 1949 didn't show up in 2010?

If we assume the person was old enough to buy the cognac for himself in 1949 then we have a minimum age of 82.



Maybe the curator should take up the tradition himself.

[many a good man]

12. It was thought that the toaster was a ghost

Maybe he finally "passed over?" :shrug:

Or maybe, since times are so tough, even ghosts are being laid off?

[Renew Deal]

7. The toaster might be toasting Poe in person.

:shrug:

[NashVegas]

10. In a Sepulchre

there by the sea

[callous taoboy]

8. Some questions I've wanted to ask the Poe toaster:

Are you a relative of the poet?
Why Poe over all of the other greats?
Is there a particular piece of Poe's work that moves you to be so faithful about your toast?

[provis99]

11. someone does this for Hoagy Carmichael in Bloomington Ind, too.

Every birthday, Hoagy gets a bottle of Crown Royal placed on his headstone, along with flowers. The tradition is still going on, as far as I know.