Mystery Man Makes Annual visit to the Grave of Edgar Allen Poe

Every January 19, the “Poe Toaster” visits the grave of Edgar Allen Poe honoring the writer’s birth by leaving three red roses and a half-filled bottle of cognac.

With over 150 people standing outside the cemetery of Westminster Presbyterian Church, that man was somehow able to pay his respects without being seen.

Former church historian, Sam Porpora claims that he developed the idea of the Poe Toaster in the 70’s as a publicity stunt.

"We did it, myself and my tour guides," Porpora said in August. "It was a promotional idea."

Since then, he says, someone else took over the position.

On the contrary, Jeff Jerome, curator for the Poe House and Museum, claims that the tributes started in 1949 bringing attention to an article in the Evening Sun.  The article printed in 1950 spoke about “an anonymous citizen who creeps in annually to place an empty bottle (of excellent label)” on Poe’s grave.

A note was left by the anonymous man saying “The torch will be passed.”  Another note followed announcing that the mystery man, who apparently died in 1998, passed the tradition to his two sons.

The author, Edgar Allen Poe, is famous for his dark poems and terrifying horror stories such as The Raven and the Telltale Heart.

Poe died in October 7, 1849 at the age for 40.  He collapsed in a Baltimore tavern.