The Poe family- Edgar Allan, wife Virginia, and mother-in-law Maria Clemm- moved into this simple, unassuming cabin in May of 1846. At that time, Fordham was a rural community and the cabin was situated on two acres of vacant land.
Judging by the correspondence that Poe sent, the family thoroughly enjoyed the small cabin. Poe became drinking and gambling buddies with the faculty of nearby St. John's College (now Fordham University). Poe wrote his poems "Annabel Lee" and "Ulalume" here, and the story "Landor's Cottage" was undoubtedly shaped by his time there.
Virginia Poe suffered from tuberculosis, and died in the cottage on January 30, 1847. Maria Clemm moved out of the cabin after Edgar died in Baltimore in 1849.
The cottage was sold at auction in 1889 for $775 to William Fearing Gill, who became Poe's first American biographer.
The cabin changed hands several times until the Poe Cottage was moved to Poe Park the corner of Kingsbridge Road and the Grand Concourse. The cottage was placed on the NRHP on August 19, 1980. Tours are available for the cottage.
