Poe Toaster is 'Nevermore'

No gift of cognac and roses left at poet's grave, ending decades-long tradition

By Liz F. Kay | liz.kay@baltsun.com Baltimore Sun reporter

A longtime tribute to Edgar Allan Poe may have come to an end with the absence of the "Poe Toaster," who for more than half a century has marked the poet's birthday by laying roses and a bottle of cognac at his original grave site.

This is the first time since Jan. 19, 1949 that the person, whose identity is unknown, failed to arrive, said Jeff Jerome, curator of the Edgar Allan Poe House. [...]

The curator was surprised that there was no indication that the toaster would be nevermore. "You would have thought he would have left a note saying it's over," Jerome said, since the toaster has left notes at the grave site before.  (read more)