Poe Toaster is a No Show

January 19, 2010, was the birthday of Edgar Allen Poe. This year is the 201st reunion of his birthday. On his birthday every year the Poe Toaster pays his grave a visit in Baltimore, Maryland. This mysterious masked figure in a cloak, top hat, and cane leaves a half bottle of alcohol along with three red roses. Why he does this, nobody really knows. This is a big deal; the Poe Toaster is taken very seriously. Every year people from all over the world come to see the Poe Toaster. It was very disappointing that the Poe Toaster did not show. It makes certain people feel they can no longer trust him to show up so now when you visit his grave on his birthday everyone will have to bring roses and alcohol.
This incident made eighth grade teacher Mrs. Weaver very upset and puzzled. The idea that the Poe Toaster is unreliable can hurt the tour site in Baltimore. This is an exact quote from Mrs. Weaver, “I am very surprised that the Poe Toaster did not make an appearance this year. It seems a shame that a 60 year tradition might not continue. I think the Poe Toaster adds to the mysteriousness of Poe, and his absence really takes away from this very unique way of honoring and celebrating Poe’s birthday. January 19, 2011 will hopefully bring the return of the Poe Toaster so the tradition can continue.”