Who is this creepy Poe Toaster, the guy who visits Edgar A. Poe's tomb on the author's birthday since 1949?

Question

- For over 50 years since 1949, on the night marking the anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's birth, a mysterious man-in-black has entered the cemetery where the master of the macabre lies buried, and, making his way through the dark shadows to Poe's grave, he places a partial bottle of expensive French cognac and three blood-red roses there, presumably as tokens of admiration and in tribute to the great author. This ritual completed, he then slips away into the night as quietly and as mysteriously as he came.
- The true meaning of the Poe Toaster's ritual and exactly what message is implied by the items left behind remains unexplained: the meaning of the French cognac is not completely clear as references to cognac did not appear as a prominent feature in Poe's works.

Answer 1

As reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Fox News, it recently came to light that the mystery man was, in fact, a semi-hoax. The gifts left at Poe's tomb were real. The whole idea of the "mystery man" was created by the curator of the Poe Museum in Philadelphia to generate interest and attract visitors.

For decades, a mysterious figure dressed in black, his features cloaked by a wide-brimmed hat and scarf, crept into a churchyard to lay three roses and a bottle of cognac at the grave of Edgar Allan Poe.

Now, a 92-year-old man who led the fight to preserve the historic site says the visitor was his creation.

"We did it, myself and my tour guides," said Sam Porpora. "It was a promotional idea. We made it up, never dreaming it would go worldwide."

Answer 2

I've been intrigued by this mystery for a long time. It seems that no one has ever been able to get any information on this man and his background. They had best hurry before it's too late; this man is definitely a Senior Citizen!

Answer 3

i like Poe, the fall of the abode of Usher became constantly my favourite tale, Annabel Lee is my favourite poem mq:A Dream interior a Dream by way of The Alan Parsons challenge bq: J.D. Salinger

Answer 4

It's probably an unknown descendant and the things are more likely to have a personal reference to the circumstances regarding his ancestry.