Poe's toaster is the mysterious keeper of the legacy of the great writer (9 photos)

The magical appeal of Edgar Allan Poe and his works has been ingrained in the minds of readers for centuries. But The Poe Toaster is a vivid testament to how deeply it lives in the subconscious of his followers.





The Poe Toaster is an anonymous organization that started the mysterious annual tradition of toasting Edgar Allan Poe at his grave on his birthday, with a bottle of cognac and three red roses. Shrouded in mystery, the Toaster has attracted much attention over the years, causing people to spy on him, but no one has ever attempted to uncover his true identity.

The Grave



The famous poet and writer died in 1849, leaving behind a legendary repository of literary works. The burial site nearly fell into oblivion. It was only a few years later that George W. Spence made a sandstone monument for him. And it was not until 1875 that a movement led by Miss Sarah Sigourney Rice successfully erected a monument worthy of the man's remains.

100 Years Later





On January 18, 1949, when Poe's birthday would have arrived at 12 midnight, a stranger was spotted at the grave. It was around midnight, and probably the only reason this event was noticed was because it occurred on the 100th anniversary of the poet's death.



However, many churchgoers claim that the apparitions began much earlier, in the 1930s. Either way, Toaster Poe's appearances have become commonplace ever since. He always appeared between midnight and dawn on January 19, dressed in all black, with a white scarf and a huge hat.



The three roses were supposedly meant for the people buried under the tombstone - Poe, his wife Virginia Clemm Poe, and his mother-in-law Maria Clemm - but the meaning of the cognac remains a mystery, as the drink never appeared in any of Poe's works. Nevertheless, many people waited for the custom to begin each year, lurking at the edge of the churchyard as the offering was dropped onto the grave.



One of them was Jeff Jerome, who always personally supervised the tradition and eventually became the keeper of the notes the toaster would sometimes leave with the items. Jerome's obsession was well known, and in 1993 a note was left for him stating that the toaster had probably passed away, as it read, "The torch will be passed."



Jerome became the curator of the Baltimore Poe House and Museum and admitted that he sometimes kept minor notes and details from the public to avoid attracting the attention of potential imitators. Even the sons of the real Toaster Poe, in his opinion, did not take the tradition seriously enough: the uniforms were sometimes replaced by casual street clothes, and the notes left behind were not fit for purpose.

They were two young men who were often seen at the grave, probably only in honor of their father's obsession. But in 2009, the meetings ceased entirely. Over the years, many known as "Fake Toasters" have left similar paraphernalia at the grave, but none have had the same impact as the original admirer or well-wisher.



The tradition proved so revered that in 2016, the Maryland Historical Society announced its return by holding auditions to find "Baltimore's Next Toaster Poe." The event has continued as a community celebration ever since.