Midnightdreary, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Unknown authorUnknown author; Restored by Yann Forget and Adam Cuerden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Edgar Allen Poe House and Museum is an unassuming small brick house located on North Amity Street in Baltimore MD, where Poe resided for a short period, starting around the age of 23.
His aunt, Mary Clemm rented the home, sharing it with her mother Elizabeth Poe, and Mary’s daughter, Virginia Clemm, who Edgar later married.
Edgar’s room was located on the top floor where it was said that he penned several of his earlier works. Until then, Poe authored mainly poetry, switching to the more familiar short stories while in residence at the home.
Quite possibly, the years spent at the residence were the happiest of Poe’s life. Born in 1809 to parents David Poe, Jr. and Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe, both actors, Edgar was the middle of three children.
Poe had a difficult childhood, with his father abandoning him in 1810 and the death of his mother soon after. The young child was taken in by a family named the Allan’s, though he was never officially adopted.
In approximately 1836, Poe took Virginia as his wife. Unfortunately, his young wife passed away in 1847, plunging Poe into a deep depression, and as some would say, madness.
A confirmed alcoholic, the author later attempted to court a former romantic interest, Sarah Whitman, who rejected him, reportedly due to his excessive drinking and unstable behavior.
On October 3, 1849, Poe was found barely conscious and transported to a medical college, where he died on October 7. His medical records were lost, so the cause of his death is not clear. Various causes have been speculated, including heart disease, syphilis, cholera, and carbon monoxide poisoning, among others.
Several mysterious circumstances surround Poe’s death. He was said to state the name “Reynolds” on the evening preceding his death and it has been speculated that he possibly had been murdered.
The small brick house still stands, though it was set to be demolished to make room for public housing. The plan was abandoned after the Edgar Allen Poe Society opened the doors to the home as a museum in 1949, displaying items related to Poe, including a portrait of Virginia, a piece of Poe’s casket, and its original obituary.
Not long after the opening of the museum, paranormal activity was reported. Its not uncommon to hear reports of unexplained knocking, footsteps, and ghostly whispers. Cold spots near Poe’s study are often felt and there have been sightings of a shadowy figure pacing the halls.
Could it be that the tortured spirit has returned to the home where he felt most comfortable?
The Poe House and Museum is located at 203 North Amity Street, Baltimore, MD.