Edgar Allan Poe's funeral
If you didn't get the chance to see the re-imagined funeral for Edgar Allan Poe yesterday in Baltimore's Westminster Hall (I was watching my beloved Red Sox being buried), this story by The Baltimore Sun's Robert Little will take you there. An excerpt:
Billed as a proper reburial of Poe, the funeral was part of a series of events commemorating the bicentennial of Poe's birth, in 1809. With the sale of 700 tickets to two funeral performances yesterday, the celebrations have attracted several thousand people, Jerome said.
People milling about the Westminster yard, some in widow's veils or other funereal garb, said they had come because they are fans of Poe's famously macabre body of work, and of the genre he pioneered.
"He was a brave trailblazer," said writer and actor Michael N. Langford, who arrived from his home in Atlanta in top hat and cravat. "He wrote the first science fiction stories, the first real American horror stories, he created the detective genre - he was like a fountainhead of American literature."
For another report on the event, here's a version from NPR. And here's the first news report of his death in the Sun, on Oct. 8, 1849, the day after he died in Baltimore, as well as more photos, stories and other material about Poe.
While she always preferred The Hardy Boys to Nancy Drew, 
Comments
Recreating his funeral was a perfect way to celebrate the macabre work of Edgar Allen Poe. Reading the first news report of his death in the Sun brought shivers to my spine.
Posted by: Emily Wilkes | October 12, 2009 12:24 PM
I drove all the way from NJ to see it. I got into the first service. It was extreme well-done. I especially liked how the company not only had individuals from Poe's time (family, friends, and Poes ultimate critic/enemy), they had a "time-life" of America's and England's biggest writers/filmakers from then til now speak about the influence of this amazingly visionary "Puppet Master" who was so underrated and misunderstood in his own time. (By the way, if you happen to see any pictures of the casket out side of Westminster Church door with a guy standing ahead of it with a baseball cap and leather jacket and glasses--that's me. Wasn't intentional. I just ended up there.)
Posted by: Rich Gruen | October 12, 2009 5:10 PM
I like Edgar Allan Poe very much. His writings are very beautiful. His famouse lines as a childhood inspired me a lot.
From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were; I have not seen
As others saw; I could not bring My passions from a common spring
Posted by: PUSHKAR BISHT | October 13, 2009 8:22 AM
"Richmond"
There beside me in the dark
Without the fire flicker spark
Of life to hold nor to project
Onto a moment retrospect
Could you be father brother son
Unknown untold other one
Seeing angels in their flight
Shadows yearn to join the light
Have you come to take the toll
Make separate the body soul
Stay your hand and wait my plea
Dawn break urges you to flee
Where in daylight be forgotten
Pushed into a hole to rotten
‘Til such darkness comes and when
We meet again will be as friends
Happy Halloween Edgar, RIP
Posted by: kevin neighbors | October 13, 2009 9:08 PM
hey why did yall move him that was kinda crazy i think he a person like ever one els he should have chosen where he was put and left there!
Posted by: betty higgins | October 14, 2009 12:18 PM
gross ive seen a dead man
Posted by: Anonymous | October 14, 2009 2:27 PM
Hey i read his books or the short stories i think they are cool.I do not think think he was driven mad i think he was just thinking of death because of his family members have died.I realy think he was creative.lol. jk
Posted by: kayla simon | October 14, 2009 4:12 PM
im studyin him
Posted by: wwqwqwwqwwq | October 14, 2009 5:57 PM
My wife and I attended the reburial from PA. It was very well done, the "sad occasion" Jeff Jerome envisioned turned into a celebration of Poe's life and influence. A bit of the 21st century tradition of celebrating the person after they die, mixed nicely with the Victorian grieving. I spoke with Bob Little just prior to the ceremony, I was wearing the Poe t-shirt, but we were interrupted by security ushering us into place. Great recap Bob. Poe as a master and his influence lives on.
Posted by: Tim Ernst | October 14, 2009 10:14 PM
crazy..but edgar allan poe is creepy to me thought
Posted by: Shantell | October 16, 2009 12:04 PM
I am delited to see this info. about Edgar, and I would like to commend on your great literature.
I will imediately go there and visit. I am a great fan of him, so I will go emidiately.
Posted by: Tonidaponi | October 16, 2009 1:36 PM
Were there living poets at the reburial- poems read? I think poetry is as neglected today- if not more so- than it was in Poe's day.
Posted by: david eberhardt | October 17, 2009 4:48 PM