Poe Cottage in Poe Park, formerly, the Valentine Estate in the Fordham section of the Bronx (c) travelincousins.com
It’s hard to imagine that the now bustling metropolis of the Bronx was once an open countryside and rural setting Westchester county back in the 19th Century.
Even more obscure to imagine is that everything north of 42nd Street in Manhattan was quite pastoral in the year 1846 when American poet Edgar Allan Poe left his downtown home to move to the Fordham section of the Bronx.
Believing and hoping that the fresh, country air would benefit his tuberculosis stricken wife, Poe rented a small cottage on the Valentine farmland estate, for which he paid $100 annually. Unfortunately, the poet’s efforts would be in vain as Virginia Poe would succumb to the disease six months after their arrival.
Even more obscure to imagine is that everything north of 42nd Street in Manhattan was quite pastoral in the year 1846 when American poet Edgar Allan Poe left his downtown home to move to the Fordham section of the Bronx.
Believing and hoping that the fresh, country air would benefit his tuberculosis stricken wife, Poe rented a small cottage on the Valentine farmland estate, for which he paid $100 annually. Unfortunately, the poet’s efforts would be in vain as Virginia Poe would succumb to the disease six months after their arrival.
Virginia Poe's Bedroom on the first floor of Poe Cottage in Poe Park, The Bronx (c) travelincousins.com
This very sad story along with a plethora of historical facts were garnered by me and my fourteen year old daughter Gianna, by our knowledgeable and gracious tour guide Glen Martinez at Poe Cottage during our visit last month. Usually, I cannot get my teen to accompany me on anything historic, but visiting the the home of the famed Edgar Allan Poe, held a great deal of interest to her and motivated her to join me.
From a historical perspective, not only was this cottage the home of Edgar Allan Poe for three years, but it is also the second oldest house in the Bronx, believed to have been built in 1797, with the oldest being Van Cortland House, dating back to 1748.
Today, Poe Cottage is part of the Historic House Trust and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. Interestingly, the little house was not always situated at its current location. It was moved from Kingsbridge and Briggs to the current location in 1913, as part of a restoration, which, at that time, cost the city of New York $5,000 or $100,000 by today’s standards.
From a historical perspective, not only was this cottage the home of Edgar Allan Poe for three years, but it is also the second oldest house in the Bronx, believed to have been built in 1797, with the oldest being Van Cortland House, dating back to 1748.
Today, Poe Cottage is part of the Historic House Trust and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. Interestingly, the little house was not always situated at its current location. It was moved from Kingsbridge and Briggs to the current location in 1913, as part of a restoration, which, at that time, cost the city of New York $5,000 or $100,000 by today’s standards.
The Kitchen - quite small and simple (c) travelincousins.com
Living Room of Poe Cottage with original items – rocking chair and mirror (c) traveincousins.com
The cottage itself, is quite small, with its modest interior and room sizes. What it lacks in stature and square footage, it more than makes up as a representative example of an 1840’s-era country cottage. Clad with very wide planked wood floor throughout, an utterly narrow staircase leading to a second floor with one bedroom and Poe’s study and virtually, intact period decor, the former Poe residence provides insight into the world in which the poet lived over one hundred-seventy years ago.
The living room for example, contains several original pieces, including a mirror and rocking chair, set a few feet away from a large bust of Poe sculpted in 1909, for the 100th Year Anniversary of his birth. Adjacent to this room on the first floor is the bedroom within which, Poe’s wife would eventually die.
The living room for example, contains several original pieces, including a mirror and rocking chair, set a few feet away from a large bust of Poe sculpted in 1909, for the 100th Year Anniversary of his birth. Adjacent to this room on the first floor is the bedroom within which, Poe’s wife would eventually die.
Sculpture of Edgar Allan Poe stands in the living room of Poe Cottage (c) travelincousins.com
Terribly depressed after Virginia's passing, the surrounding neighborhood and local area of the Bronx provided Poe with a few favorite spots that he would frequent often. Nearby St. John’s College, now Fordham University was one of these. Run by the Jesuits, we were told during our tour that the poet got on well with the priests, spending time at the college library and speaking French with them. He would also be baptized at the college.
The High Bridge and its rocky ledge along The Bronx River was another nearby destination that Poe is said to have spent a great deal of time - walking back and forth, hours at a time. Situated on the land that was then-owned by St. John’s College, it is now part of the land that comprises The New York Botanical Gardens.
The High Bridge and its rocky ledge along The Bronx River was another nearby destination that Poe is said to have spent a great deal of time - walking back and forth, hours at a time. Situated on the land that was then-owned by St. John’s College, it is now part of the land that comprises The New York Botanical Gardens.
Me and Mr. Poe (c) travelincousins.com
Some of Poe’s greatest works were written during the time he resided in the Bronx, including the poem "Annabel Lee", "Eureka," a lengthy non-fiction work which he subtitled "A Prose Poem", though it has also been subtitled as "An Essay on the Material and Spiritual Universe", "The Cask of Amontillado" and most notably, as it relates to the Bronx, “The Bells” about the chapel bell on St. John’s College campus. In fact, the chapel bell was named Old Edgar Allan, in Poe’s honor.
Poe moved out of the Bronx and died in Baltimore at the age of forty in 1849. His death is still a cold case, as he was said to have died from “congestion of the brain,” a loose medical term, but the actual cause of death has never been definitively determined, adding to the the mysterious legacy of the poet.
Edgar Allan Poe is remembered for his bizarre and thought provoking poems and short stories and has been called the Father of the Modern Detective story because of his creation of C. Auguste Dupin, the first literary ‘genius detective,’ which pre-dates Sherlock Holmes.
Poe Cottage is a piece of American and Bronx History and a must-see for kids and adults alike.
-Elisa
Poe moved out of the Bronx and died in Baltimore at the age of forty in 1849. His death is still a cold case, as he was said to have died from “congestion of the brain,” a loose medical term, but the actual cause of death has never been definitively determined, adding to the the mysterious legacy of the poet.
Edgar Allan Poe is remembered for his bizarre and thought provoking poems and short stories and has been called the Father of the Modern Detective story because of his creation of C. Auguste Dupin, the first literary ‘genius detective,’ which pre-dates Sherlock Holmes.
Poe Cottage is a piece of American and Bronx History and a must-see for kids and adults alike.
-Elisa
(c) travelincousins.com
For Your Information
Poe Cottage/Poe Park
2640 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10458
(718) 881-8900
Hours:
Thursday 10AM–3PM
Friday 10AM–3PM
Saturday 10AM–4PM
Sunday 1–5PM
Poe Cottage/Poe Park
2640 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10458
(718) 881-8900
Hours:
Thursday 10AM–3PM
Friday 10AM–3PM
Saturday 10AM–4PM
Sunday 1–5PM
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