Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-07-12
EDGAR POES COTTAGE.
Where He Wrote 1.-The Raven" Sold
Under the Sheriff's Hammer.

In the spring of 1916, Edgar Allen
Poe, with his invalid wife and his moth.
er-in-law, moved from the noise and
hustle of New York life, to small cot,
tage in the quiet village Of FOrdham.
This cottage was sold on Saturday, un-
der foreclosure for $500. The plain
tiff, Mr.. Nelson Strang. was the purcha-
ser.
Near the heuss Is a Syringa, planted
by the poet. 1t is tall, struggling bush
in keeping with its surroundings. Bend
ing down lilac Mrs. Decker broke a
handful of the fragrant flowers,and Civ
ing them to her visitor, sent him away,
saying: "You have seen the cottage
you can hear something Of its master by
calling on Mrs. Cromwell"
Turning to the right at the first corner
and following the she'll path is another
white cottage, in which Mrs. Cromwell
lives.
What do you want to know about
Eddie Poe ?" she said; "hs's been dead so
long l thought he was forgotten. Well,
it's mighty curious. You folks think
more of him now than you did when he
was alive"
You knew him?" the reporter asked.
"Knsw Eddie Poe? Why, l was the
first neighbor his folks got acquainted
with when they moved out here 81 years
. ago. Mr.. Poe found me himself in the
cherry tree. and he took me right over
to see his wife, poor woman, and his
mother-in-law. l used to go over there
very often"
did You know much OF the family q
81 knew they were mighty poor-poor-
CT than | ever was OF ever expect 10 be
. They lived hard over there, and didn't
have much that was nice. Mr.. Poe was
a good man-wben he wasn't drinking.
He seemed very fond Of that poor. sick
wife of his. Mrs. Clsmm used to watch
him mighty close. aud I've known her
to go TO New York twice a day to tend
TO his business just to keep him from
going. She knew he would get in bad
company and go to drinking again.
WHY, I've seen him when three men
couldn't hold him in the bed. But there
wasn't better man in the world when
he was sober. He was very fond of
flowers. and used to tramp all over the
woods to lind 'em. He loved birds, too,
and had lots of 'em singing in his yard.
He WAS the greatest walker | ever saw,
and used to go to White Plains-sixteen
miles and back in a day, and many's
t,n night he has wandered over these
hills without \ coat or hat.
when his wife died, Mr.. Poe took il
mighty hard She was buried up in the
old Dutch cemetery, but they afterward
moved her to Baltimore, about FIVE years
ago. He used to cry over her grave sv-
cry day. and keep it green with flowers"
"You have some relics, L believer"
This is the chair he used to sit in, .
said the old lady, rising slowly. "Its
just exactly like it was when l got it,
except that iron strap on the arm.
Somebody broke it and | had it mended.
Here is his own Bible, and his clock is
up stairs, if you want to ses it."
1t is an eight day clock, running yet,as
it has for thirty-six years. The chair has
been in conftant use, but has the same
cane in back and seat it had when the
poet sat in it.
81 bought the chair and clock" con-
tinued Mrs. Cron well, but Mrs. Clsmm
gave me the Bible, and I'll never part
with it. l might sell the other things,
but if you are all going to think so much
of Mr.. Poe. guess Ill have to think
something of him too"
In the old Bible one passage was
found marked vii, 1s-"I loaths it;