Last week was Edgar Allen Poe’s birthday, January 19th, and for the last sixty years the Poe Toaster has made an appearance at the graveside of the famed author.  This has become a tradition for many people not only living in the city of Baltimore, but fans of Poe world wide.  Many people plan their vacation around this time and travel to the city, book a room in one of the fine hotels, and head to Westminster Grave Yard around midnight on the 19th to catch a glimpse of the unknown Toaster. 

The Poe Toaster is a cloaked person, who leaves roses and a bottle of Cognac on Poe’s grave, first taking one shot of the Cognac him, or her, self.  However many waiting this year were left disappointed, as it seems that this traditional tribute may have come to an abrupt end.  The curator of the Edgar Allen Poe House was more than disappointed, as he stated that he was down right annoyed.  Jeff Jerome said that he had been witnessing the tribute since 1977, and that there was no indication that the Toaster was not going to show up this year.  He said that the Toaster sometimes left notes, and sometimes knelt at the graveside, but that it was always a brief and touching ceremony. 

This year about fifty people were waiting, and they continued to wait until just about six o’clock the next morning.  Jerome went out to tell them all at that time, that there was no Toaster this year.  One woman had flown in from Chicago just to witness the event, and stated that while she did get a story, it was a sad story for it appears that the tradition may have come to an end.  Other people expressed their thoughts, saying that perhaps the Toaster was just sick, or had trouble starting their car.  However Jerome does believe that this may in fact be the end.  Last year was the bicentennial celebration of the author’s birthday, so this could be the perfect timing for the end of an era.  Jerome stated that he will however stand watch for the next two years to see if the Toaster returns.