Spooky, Strange and True: Edgar Allan Poe

When it comes to spooky and strange occurrences, there’s no shortage of stories to tell. But what about those stories that seem impossible to be true, but are in fact, real? Here’s one that might give you goosebumps:

In the early 1900s, a man by the name of Edgar Allan Poe (no, not the famous writer) was buried in the old Dutch Churchyard in Sleepy Hollow, New York. The cemetery was known for its spooky atmosphere and eerie legends, and Poe’s grave quickly became a popular spot for visitors to the area.

But it wasn’t just the cemetery’s reputation that drew people in. Visitors soon began reporting strange occurrences happening around Poe’s grave. Some claimed to see a ghostly figure lurking nearby, while others reported feeling an icy chill or sudden gust of wind. Reports of strange shadows or bizarre unexplainable lights have been reported as well as people feeling as though they were being watched or followed by an unseen presence. Others have reported the sound of odd noises or hearing whispers coming from the area around the grave.

The most chilling account came from a group of soldiers who were passing through the area during World War ll. They decided to pay a visit to the cemetery and stumbled upon Poe’s grave. As they stood there, paying their respects, they suddenly heard a blood-curdling scream coming from the nearby woods. They quickly fled the area, convinced that they had encountered something otherworldly.

Despite the spooky stories, Poe’s grave remained a popular attraction. However, in the 1970’s, the cemetery’s caretaker noticed that something strange was happening. Every year, a mysterious figure would appear at his grave on the night of Poe's birthday. The figure was always dressed in black and carried a bottle of cognac, which was poured over the grave before disappearing into the night.

Whether or not the Poe Toaster was real, the spooky legends surrounding Edgar Allan Poe’s grave are undeniably eerie. So the next time you find yourself in Sleepy Hollow, you might want to think twice before paying a visit to Poe’s final resting place.