Poe Gravesite Visitor Has First No-Show in 60 Years

Edgar Allan Poe gravesite visitor fails to show

A celebrated literary tradition may have come to an end after the "Poe Toaster" - an unknown person who visits the poet Edgar Allen Poe's gravesite each year - failed to show up for the first time in more than 60 years.

The Baltimore Sun reports the "Poe Toaster” has visited the Baltimore grave on the poet’s birthday every year since January 19, 1949, each time leaving three roses and a bottle of cognac.

Jeff Jerome, curator of the Edgar Allan Poe House in Baltimore, Maryland told the Baltimore Sun that the toaster usually arrives between midnight and 5.30am every year, but failed to do so this year.

"I've been doing this since 1977, and there was no indication he wasn't going to show up," Mr Jerome told the Sun.

According to Mr Jerome, the toaster sometimes knelt at the tombstone or put his hands on it.

"There's no elaborate ceremony - it's very short and touching," he said.

A group of 30 to 50 people waited around this year to see the “Poe Toaster” but were left disappointed.

"Everybody has their theories about what happened," Mr Jerome told the Sun.

"Somebody said, 'Maybe he just has the flu.'"

Another possibility is that 2009 was the bicentennial of Poe's birthday.

"And if it was going to end, that would be the perfect time to end it," Mr Jerome said.

Mr Jerome said he was surprised that the toaster had mysteriously failed to turn up this year.

"You would have thought he would have left a note saying it's over," he said.

The toaster has left notes at the gravesite before.

Mr Jerome told the Baltimore Sun he would continue to keep vigil each morning of January 19 until 2012.

"After two years if he doesn't show up, I think we can safely assume the tribute has ended," he said.