Vivian Marlowe
Edgar Allan Poe's grave has been the site of mysterious alcohol-related visits for decades. An unidentified person, known as the Poe Toaster, visited the site of Poe's original grave in Baltimore, Maryland, annually on the author's birthday, leaving behind a partial bottle of cognac and three roses. The tradition, which began as early as the 1930s, continued until 2009, with the Toaster's identity remaining unknown. The significance of the cognac is uncertain, as it does not appear in Poe's works, but it may have been a personal tradition of the Toaster. The Toaster's absence in 2009 disappointed many, but the tradition was briefly resurrected in 2016 by an imposter. Beyond the Toaster, Poe's grave has attracted visitors for years, with many honouring his legacy in unique ways, including leaving pennies on the monument.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the tradition | Poe Toaster |
| Who does it | An unidentified person (or probably more than one person in succession) |
| What do they leave | Three roses and a half-filled bottle of cognac |
| When do they leave it | On the night of the anniversary of Poe's birth (as January 18 becomes January 19) |
| Where do they leave it | On Poe's grave in Baltimore, Maryland |
| What do they wear | Black clothes with a wide-brimmed hat and a white scarf |
| How long has it been going on | Since the 1930s or 1940s until 2009 or 2010 |
| Why do they leave cognac | The significance is uncertain, but a note left in 2004 suggested that it may have been a family tradition of the toaster |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The 'Poe Toaster' is the name given to the person who leaves alcohol at Edgar Allan Poe's grave
- The 'Poe Toaster' is unidentified and may be more than one person
- The tradition began in the 1930s and continued until 2009
- The 'Poe Toaster' leaves three roses and a note in addition to alcohol
- The significance of the alcohol being cognac is unknown
The 'Poe Toaster' is the name given to the person who leaves alcohol at Edgar Allan Poe's grave
The Poe Toaster is the name given to the person who, for several decades, honoured the American author Edgar Allan Poe by visiting his grave in Baltimore, Maryland, in the early hours of January 19, Poe's birthday. The figure, dressed in black with a wide-brimmed hat and white scarf, would pour a glass of cognac (or cherry brandy, amontillado, or scotch whisky) and raise a toast to Poe's memory. The Poe Toaster would then leave three roses in a distinctive arrangement and an unfinished bottle of liquor before vanishing into the night. Onlookers gathered annually, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive figure, who did not seek publicity and was rarely photographed.
The tradition may have begun as early as the 1930s and continued until 2009 or 2010, with the last visit taking place on January 19, 2010. The identity of the Poe Toaster remains a mystery, with some speculating that it was likely more than one person in succession carrying out the annual tribute. In 2007, a 92-year-old man named Sam Porpora claimed that he had started the tradition in the 1960s as a "publicity stunt" for the church, but this claim is disputed.
The roses are believed to represent Poe, his wife Virginia Eliza Poe (or Virginia Clemm Poe), and his mother-in-law Maria Clemm, all of whom were originally interred at the site. The cognac toast has also sparked curiosity, as the drink doesn't appear in any of Poe's works. While some speculate that the toaster simply liked cognac, others suggest that amontillado would be a more appropriate reference to Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado."
The Poe Toaster has become a character of fascination, appearing in books, occult documentaries, and other media. The mystery and intrigue surrounding this annual tribute have added to the allure of Edgar Allan Poe's life and work, continuing to captivate people's imaginations.
Alcohol Facts: True or False?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![2-Pack Cemetery Vases with Spikes, Plastic Flower Holder Grave Decorations Drainage Holes for Gravestone/Headstone/Memorial/Cemetery/Grave Markers, Floral Holder Vases [Black]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71rLufpXFqL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The 'Poe Toaster' is unidentified and may be more than one person
The Poe Toaster is the name given to an unidentified person or persons who, for several decades, paid an annual tribute to Edgar Allan Poe. The Toaster would visit the cenotaph marking Poe's original grave in Baltimore, Maryland, in the early hours of January 19, Poe's birthday. The figure, dressed in black with a wide-brimmed hat and a scarf obscuring their face, would pour a glass of cognac (or occasionally another type of liquor), raise a toast to Poe's memory, then vanish, leaving three roses and the unfinished bottle of alcohol behind.
The tradition may have begun as early as the 1930s and continued until 2009, though no reports appeared in print until 1950. The Toaster was rarely seen or photographed and did not seek publicity. However, in 1990, a photograph, reputedly of the Toaster, was published by Life Magazine.
In 1993, a note left by the Toaster stated, "The torch will be passed," and in 1999, another note announced that the original Toaster had died the previous year and had passed the tradition to "a son". This, along with other evidence, suggests that there may have been more than one person involved in the ritual over the years. For example, in 2004, the Toaster left a note that was critical of France's opposition to the Iraq War, which Jeff Jerome, the former curator of the Poe House and Museum, interpreted as a sign that the original Toaster's son or sons did not take the tradition as seriously as their father had. Additionally, eyewitnesses noted that the individual performing the ritual appeared to be younger after 1998.
In 2007, a 92-year-old man named Sam Porpora claimed that he had started the Poe Toaster tradition in the 1960s as a "publicity stunt" for the church, though published reports of the annual visits date from before this time.
In 2015, the Maryland Historical Society organized a competition to select a new individual to continue the tradition in a modified form. The new Toaster made their first appearance in 2016, wearing the traditional garb and playing the violin.
Alcohol Burning Power: What's the Minimum Strength?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The tradition began in the 1930s and continued until 2009
The tradition of leaving alcohol at Edgar Allan Poe's grave, known as the "Poe Toaster", began in the 1930s and continued until 2009. Each year, on the night of January 19th—Poe's birthday—a mysterious, black-clad figure carrying a silver-tipped cane and with their face obscured by a scarf or hood would enter the Westminster Hall and Burying Ground in Baltimore, Maryland. The figure, known as the "Poe Toaster", would approach Poe's original grave, marked with a commemorative stone, and pour a glass of Martell cognac. The cognac's significance is uncertain, as it does not feature in Poe's works. However, a note left at the 2004 visitation suggested that it may have been a tradition of the Toaster's family.
The Toaster would raise a toast to Poe's memory, drink the cognac, and then arrange three red roses on the grave in a distinctive configuration. The roses were believed to represent Poe, his wife Virginia Eliza Poe, and his mother-in-law Maria Clemm, all of whom were originally interred at the site. After completing the ritual, the Toaster would depart, leaving the unfinished bottle of cognac and vanishing into the night.
The identity of the Poe Toaster remains unknown, and they successfully avoided publicity and were rarely seen or photographed. It is speculated that there may have been multiple people carrying out the tradition over the years, as a note left in 1999 announced that the original Toaster had died and passed the tradition to "a son".
The tradition came to an end in 2009 when, for the first time in 70 years, the Toaster did not appear on Poe's birthday. However, the Maryland Historical Society briefly resurrected the tradition in 2016, choosing a person to perform the ritual at Poe's grave. While the ceremony was the same, the mystery surrounding the original Toaster was missing.
Signs of a High Alcohol Tolerance
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The 'Poe Toaster' leaves three roses and a note in addition to alcohol
The Poe Toaster is the name given to an unidentified person who, for several decades, honoured Edgar Allan Poe by visiting his grave in Baltimore, Maryland, in the early hours of January 19, Poe's birthday. The Poe Toaster is described as a shadowy figure, dressed in black with a wide-brimmed hat and a white scarf. The figure would pour a glass of cognac, or cherry brandy, amontillado, or Scotch whisky, and raise a toast to Poe's memory. The Toaster then places three red roses on the grave and leaves the unfinished bottle of alcohol behind. The roses are believed to represent Poe, his wife Virginia Eliza Poe, and his mother-in-law Maria Clemm, who were all originally buried at the site.
The tradition of the Poe Toaster is believed to have begun in 1949, although some claim it started earlier, and has continued for several decades, with the Toaster appearing annually on Poe's birthday. The identity of the Poe Toaster has been the subject of much speculation, with some believing it to be more than one person in succession. In 2007, Sam Porpora, a retired advertising executive and Westminster church historian, claimed to be the original Poe Toaster, but his claim was dismissed by some due to inconsistencies in his story.
In addition to the roses and alcohol, the Poe Toaster has occasionally left notes with their tributes. These notes have included expressions of devotion to Poe, as well as cryptic messages. For example, in 1993, a note stated, "The torch will be passed," hinting at the possibility of multiple people carrying out the tradition. In 1999, a note announced that the original Toaster had died and passed the tradition to "a son." The notes have also touched on contemporary issues, such as the Iraq War and the Baltimore Ravens football team, which was named after Poe's poem.
The tradition of the Poe Toaster came to an end in 2010, when the mysterious visitor did not appear at Poe's grave on his birthday. Jeff Jerome, curator of the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum in Baltimore, officially pronounced the Poe-toasting tradition over. Despite the end of the original tradition, the Maryland Historical Society selected a new individual to carry out a modified version of the tribute in 2016, continuing the legacy of the Poe Toaster in a new form.
Alcoholism and Vegetarianism: Health Benefits Cancelled?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The significance of the alcohol being cognac is unknown
For decades, a mysterious visitor known as the "Poe Toaster" visited Edgar Allan Poe's grave in Baltimore, Maryland, on the early morning of January 19, the writer's birthday. The visitor, dressed in black with a wide-brimmed hat and a scarf, would pour a glass of cognac (or occasionally, cherry brandy, amontillado, or Scotch whisky), recite a brief toast, and leave the unfinished bottle of liquor along with three roses on the grave. This ritual was performed annually from the 1930s or 1940s until 2009, with a brief revival in 2016.
The significance of the cognac being used is unknown. Cognac does not feature in Poe's works, unlike amontillado, which appears in his short story "The Cask of Amontillado." A note left at the 2004 visitation suggested that the cognac may have been a tradition of the Toaster's family rather than a reference to Poe. Some have suggested that the Toaster may have simply preferred cognac. Several bottles of cognac left by the Toaster are kept at the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum in Baltimore.
The identity of the Poe Toaster remains a mystery, and the visitor was never photographed or identified. It is speculated that the role was passed down to different people over the years, possibly including the original Toaster's sons. The Toaster's notes, which began appearing in 1990, included expressions of devotion, cryptic messages, and references to current events.
Poe's life and death have been the subject of much speculation, with some historians characterizing him as an alcoholic, although this portrayal is disputed. The circumstances of his death are unknown, and he was buried in an unmarked grave with only seven people in attendance. Hundreds of people now visit his grave each year, and many leave unique tributes, such as pennies or notes.
Alcohol and Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Is There a Link?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The significance of the alcohol is uncertain, as it does not feature in Poe's works. One note left at the grave in 2004 suggested that the cognac may have been a tradition of the visitor's family rather than Poe's.
The person leaving alcohol at Edgar Allan Poe's grave is known as the "Poe Toaster". The visitor's identity is unknown, and they have been referred to as a "mysterious stranger".
The Poe Toaster visits Edgar Allan Poe's grave annually on January 19, which is Poe's birthday.
The Poe Toaster also leaves three roses and sometimes a note. The roses are believed to represent Poe, his wife Virginia Eliza Poe, and his mother-in-law Maria Clemm, who were all originally buried at the site.
