What is the “Poe Toaster” tradition?
From Flickr, Creative Commons License
From time to time, we come across a few traditions. This one in particular caught our attention: the tradition of the “Poe Toaster.”
What is it?
For over seven decades a mysterious person would arrive at the grave of Edgar Allan Poe on his birthday, toast the author with a glass of cognac, then leave 3 roses and the unfinished bottle of cognac behind. But for the third straight year, the Poe Toaster has been a no-show.
This mysterious visitor has been described as wearing dark clothes, a white scarf and a wide-brimmed hat. They come in the middle of the night. Some say it could be a father/son combo, which is why the tradition has continued for so long. Die-hard fans have been gathering each year to catch a glimpse, but since 2009, the toaster has not appeared.
For those of you who haven’t heard of Edgar Allan Poe, he is most famous for his poem, “The Raven” and short stores such as “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Pit and The Pendulum.” His death is still unclear, but he’s buried in Westminster Burial Ground, which is now downtown Baltimore. Hence the pro football team name: Baltimore Ravens.
So what do you think of this tradition? Have you heard of it? What other mysterious traditions do you want to share with the community? Tell us below!
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I thought everyone had heard of it, guess it’s limited to those of us that listen to the news and take interest in books/authors.
I heard about it, and actually had a dream about it that scared me ***less. It’s kind of creepy, how probably 2 people for a REALLY long time suddenly stop.
The tradition of the “Poe Toaster” likely dates back to the 1940s. Every year, at midnight on Jan. 19, a mysterious man wearing black clothes, a white scarf and a wide-brimmed hat, would show up and place a bottle of cognac and three roses at Poe’s grave.
Over the past few years, Jeff Jerome, curator of the Poe House, has developed buzz about the yearly ritual by holding vigils during the night at the museum to watch the “Toaster” from afar. The vigils also attracted many members of the public, who would stand outside the gates to watch the show.
But the tradition suddenly stopped in 2010, and the “Toaster” failed to show up last year as well. This year was the last year Jerome said he would hold the annual vigils, in hopes of the “Toaster” returning. However, only impersonators showed up to the midnight event.
The identity of the “Poe Toaster” is unknown to this day and is one literary mystery that may remain unsolved.
That is some freaky-deeky stuff. I want to see this my self.
I heard of it from my English teacher a few months ago. She LOVES Edgar Allan Poe and she told us about the tradition and how it randomly stopped.
The person/people involved either died, moved away, or is/are unable to get there for some reason.
Or, whoever was meant to carry on the tradition didn’t.
Not to confuse a Poe Toaster with a poetaster. (Look it up.)
What brand of cognac?
wow thatts coool
That is soooo crazy! I love it! It really is a mystery as to who was doing it AND what happened to the person 2 years ago……wow!
grew up north of baltimore, and was spoon fed poe as child. while the toaster might have finally ceased to visit, Many are the people who remember with fondness the thrill of a Poe tale told well. Not too far away from the cemetary is a wonderful pub, The Horse You Came In On. Local legend has it Poe was walking home from there the when he became deathly Ill and died ( It is highly likly Poe died of Rabies)..The owners of the bar say it is haunted by a spirit, that they call Edgar..
OMG i love Edger Allen Poe soooo much. my teacher said that he commited suicide and that’s why he died, and the reason he did that is cause his daughter passed away.
the poem about his daughter is called “lenore” ” I dirge for her, the doubly dead, in that she died so young” that’s what i think it goes like.
I’m sure something might have happened to this/these person/people. Maybe the one or ones responsible passed away and there’s no one to carry on the legacy.
This is interesting. I do know of Edgar Allen Po, and I have read his story “The Tell Tail Heart” (Which I am still grasping at as to the context of the story, if someone could tell me).
Um, maybe the people stopped because what they were doing was causing too much attention to them…
its the anniversary of Edgar Allen Poe’s death when the man in black left spirits and a rose at his grave dating back to the 1940s several fans show up each year waiting for the man in black around midnight. and he has not shown up for the last 3years and the tradition has seen it last year this year
Maybe they… got sick, are unable to walk, or passed away through accident or age. May their souls rest in peace. WHETHER THEY`RE LIVING OR DEAD, REST IN PEACE!
I do find it a little interesting that most people (apparently) assume that the Poe toaster is/was a man.
It’s not creepy at all that they stopped. The person/people probably just died of old age, and no one took over.
yes i have heard of the poe toaster and it makes me incredibly sad to think that the traditon my be over for good rest in peace poe rest in peace
Speaking of Poe, the Ravens crushed my heart today…
I’ve heard of it. I share a birthday with Poe, so it had become one of the significant features every year on my birthday. Sometimes I have waited up all night waiting on the news and possibly answers behind the mystery. Sadly this tradition seems to have been lost, seeing as the toaster has not shown up for the last 3 years.
It makes me sad that a great tradition is being neglected. If this happens again, I will go be the next ‘Poe Toaster’.
The vigil inside the former church is closed to the public, but over the years, a crowd has gathered outside the gates to watch. After the “Poe Toaster” failed to show in 2010, last year’s vigil attracted impersonators, including a man who arrived in a limo and a few women.
The crowd outside the gates of the burial ground into Thursday morning was more respectful than last year. Even the impersonators were more solemn, perhaps because of the sense that this could be the last vigil, according to Sherri Weaver, 40, of Randallstown, who works in finance. Weaver and a few dozen others — some from as far away as California and Chicago — braved a windy night with temperatures around 30 degrees, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mystery visitor.
“Some people held out some optimism, but this may be the end,” she said as dawn approached and it was becoming clear that the “Poe Toaster” was not showing up for a third time. “People know this is not a fluke, it’s a quiet end.”
The Poe Toaster has been a wonderful fellow. Much like Greyfriar’s Bobby or Sgt. Stubby – if you love shaggy dog stories – search for both of them!
I have heard of it and felt like it was family related to him that carried on the tradition. The last person must have died suddenly which is why it didn’t get passed on perhaps? He is one of my favorite authors and we are going to visit his grave next month to pay our respects.
Wow only 4 comments including mine which would be 5… Not many have heard of this -_-
yes I’ve heard of the Poe Toaster I live in Baltimore. The tradition scared me when I was younger for some reason lol
Cool—and creepy. Too bad his birthday isn’t in the 26′th… Love his poems “The Raven’ and “A Telltale Heart”
on*
awesome. good stuff.
love
Never heard of it, but it actually sounds kind of cool.
The only thing ‘unclear’ about Poe’s death is how he got the horrible disease that killed him. He’d been missing for months when he found laying next to a curb on a city street. He was diagnosed with hydrophobia, an illness with no treatment or cure at the time. Today we know hydrophobia as rabies. I’m a huge fan of Poe’s work and have read everything more than once, including every bio written about him.
I absolutely love Edgar Allen Poe!
I was very sad to hear that Poe’s mysterious visitor hasn’t appeared for the last few years.
America is often overlooked as a producer of quality music and literature. Poe’s work has been recreated into many mediums. Be it re-written works, tv, movies, early radio programs, graphic novels, etc. . .
IMHO, he is the creator of the horror genre. I had heard that the Poe museum is in danger of being closed down due to money issues. This saddens me greatly. If you can help, do so.
Anyway, traditionally, a single red rose signifies a signal of love – if given to a woman it signifies his devotion to her. If given to a man, it signifies respect.
The cognac – well – it’s no huge secret that Poe was an alcoholic. It’s much like the tradition that when you drink – you pour a shot onto the ground for all of your lost friends and family.
Can you honor one of the best American authors any other way than the way they lived?
Yes I have heard about the “Toasters” for many years. Since they have not visited since 2009 I assume they died or got too old to visit Poe’s grave. Very unique and quite a thrilling tale !
There was a recent article on Yahoo News that he’s now not appeared for three years and they are presuming that the mysterious Poe toaster has passed on and won’t return – nevermore, so to speak
http://news.yahoo.com/poe-fans-call-end-toaster-tradition-105227649.html
No, Lenore wasn’t his daughter Poe didn’t have a daughter. But he did have a child bride who died of TB. He didn’t commit suicide, as many posters have stated, it was likely rabies. I remember hearing about the Toaster all my life. Sorry this tradition has passed
There is something in his stories that makes anybody to go on with reading them all…it was his time when industrialization happened and stories aroused about the “vex of the soul”?..
The masque of the red death was the story which introduced me to Mr. Poe. I loved it afterward I continue to read the other stories. “MS found in the bottle” “black cat” “bernice” and the others…
I heard about the Poe Toaster — hmm, over 30 yrs ago.
I learned about him in school as a kid — it was very cool.
It’s sad that most kids don’t know who Poe is, let alone the Toaster.
I might be “dated” but incredible literature is never “dated” — so, that is no excuse.
It’s also sad to lose these great tradtions.
I’ve seen so many fall by the way side.
Alas, the Poe Toaster has left us.
Who is next —- the Lone Marine that stands at perfect attention and salutes for hours as the Vietnam Vets are passing in Rolling Thunder every year — maybe our great mystery man who loads Salvation Army red buckets with extremely valuable gold coins every holiday season.
Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
To my own “man of tradition” — the WWII Vet in Atlanta with the bad limp and little white dog decorated for every parade who would make sure everyone had a red poppy to wear in their button — to remember the Vets.
You are remembered, sir — as is the Poe Toaster.
Bless you.
I love this
I’ve heard of this. Three roses and an open bottle of cogniac are placed on Poe’s grave every January 19. I think it’s a pretty cool tradition for (in my opinion) America’s best poet and writer. His life was pretty depressing, though.
This is very nice stuff to read and I have never heard of this man .But i will soon get to now more about him now thank you Yahoo Q A
i have also known of this story,about the toaster,but i had not heard that it stopped. it is sad, maybe it was all the looky lue’s. but sadly all good things must end as did poe, but his shadow remains through his works! here’s one for you sir! here’s one for you!