literature
edgar allan poe national historical site
from edgar allan poe posted in literature by tacopolis
Between 1837 to 1844, Edgar Allan Poe lived in a number of homes in the Philadelphia area. Today, this is the only home that remains.
Poe spent five years during that period living in Phillie, and it is considered his most prolific years as a writer, completing "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," and "The Gold-Bug".
Poe moved into this address with his wife, Virginia, and his mother-in-law, Maria Clemm, in June of 1843. Before they moved to New York in April 1844, it is thought that Poe completed the stories "A Tale of the Ragged Mountains", "The Balloon-Hoax", and "Eulalie" at this location. Also, it is believed that he started his most famous work, "The Raven" while at this address. This is rather hard to prove, but it helps to justify a raven sculpture outside the building (and a plaque making this assertion).
The home was purchased by Richard Gimbel (of the department store Gimbels). A fan of the writer, he refurbished the home, made it into a museum, and left it to the National Park Service in his will (which took over facility operations in 1978).
Today, the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site is open to the public.
the horse you came in on saloon
from edgar allan poe posted in literature by tacopolis
Everybody likes a good story, and this Fells Point institution has a number of them.
The oldest continually operating saloon in the United States (since 1775), the bar has changed names many times, but is now a live music venue known as The Horse You Came In On Saloon.
Local legend says that Edgar Allan Poe used to enjoy imbibing at this location, and that he was potentially knocking them down here the day he was found incoherent on the street before he died- October 3, 1849.
Although this story is completely unverified, so are equally fun ghost stories from the bar's employees. Apparently, a ghost nicknamed "Edgar" continually swings the chandelier, opens cash register doors, pulls out stools, and knocks over beer bottles. Maybe the ghost is drunk too...
e.a. poe’s dorm room
from edgar allan poe posted in literature by tacopolis
From February to December 1826, Edgar Allan Poe lived in this dorm room (#13) on the West Range of the University of Virginia. Poe was 17 years old, had a penchant for drinking, and had to drop out of school due to lack of funds.
In 1920, the room was restored to its 1826 look (complete with Poe's bed from his days of living with his adoptive family, the Allans). Today, the room is maintained by the Raven Society of the University of Virginia. The room's interior can be viewed from the exterior through a large glass window.
edgar allan poe’s grave
from edgar allan poe posted in literature by tacopolis
From 1949 to 2009, a mysterious figure nicknamed "The Poe Toaster" would visit Poe's grave annually on January 19 (E.A. Poe's birthday).
The figure would slink into the graveyard under the cover of dark, dressed in black with a wide-brimmed hat and white scarf. He would pour himself a glass of cognac and raise a toast to Poe's memory, then vanish, leaving three roses in a distinctive arrangement and the unfinished bottle of cognac.
The tradition lasted for sixty years. Nobody knows who the Toaster was, but there is evidence that it was a father who passed the bizarre ritual to his son. The year 2009 marked the bicentennial of Poe's birth, and since then there has not been an appearance of The Poe Toaster (or the signature opened bottle of booze with roses).
edgar allan poe’s grave
from edgar allan poe posted in literature by tacopolis
In 1875, Poe was disinterred from the original burial location and moved to his present location. A larger, more ornate monument had been erected for the popular writer through donations, gifts, and fund-raising.
Among the dignitaries to attend the dedication of the monument on November 17, 1875 was Walt Whitman.
The monument is still within the Westminster Burying Grounds; the move placed Poe next to his mother-in-law, Mrs. Maria Clemm (on his right), and his wife, Virginia Poe (who had been originally buried in New York in 1847).