Text: Arthur Thomas Dyson, “Poe's Cottage in Fordham,” New York Times (New York, NY), vol. LIV, no. 17,367, August 12, 1905 (Saturday Review of Books, Part II, Literary Section of the New York Times), p. 532, cols. 2-3

[page 532, column 2, continued:]

Poe's Cottage in Fordham.

New York Times Saturday Review of Books:

Perhaps most of us have at least seen the cottage in Fordham of Edgar Allan Poe, in which he resided during the period 1844-9. Some have been more fortunate and allowed to enter and cross the threshold crossed so often by that famous maker of phrases. During the course of a year a large number of pilgrims come from far and near. So accessible, for it is but a few blocks from Fordham Station, on King's Bridge Road, that it is one of the places of interest which could be visited by all. Nearly every one who has read a scrap of Poe ought to have an interest in this matter, for was it not here that the author of The Raven and his wife struggled to keep that wolf of poverty from the door of this little white cottage? Vilifiers and disputants may not agree on many points concerning the poet, but their exclamations are hushed when we journey to the place which furnished the unfortunate with some semblance of a home.

But when people come from the Battery or from Brooklyn, Queens, or Richmond; to the Bronx intent on visiting this Poe cottage they are sadly disappointed. The public at large is not counted on, for when the pilgrim arrives is she or he not confronted with a placard hung out conspicuously bearing the following, words: “Property — No Trespassing.” Now the good friends who have come so far to “visit” are held back by this terrible warning. Of course they may view the house and observe the legend on it telling of Poe having his residence here during 1814-0, and above it they may see the picture of a raven, but nothing more. You may ask why, but only the verses can answer.

A natural question confronts us: Why is this private property? What does it [column 3:] mean? Are we to believe that this house, once the habitation of an author of national — yes, of international — reputation has been allowed to pass into private hands? Has not public interest been stirred up sufficiently to keep this place free from restraint and opened to a respecting public?

Directly opposite the cottage is a city park named after the poet. Its acreage is two and it is laid out tastefully. Suppose the city should get possession of this house, why could it not be moved from its present location and placed in the centre of this preserve. Here it would be safe from the encroachment of time; here fire would be less likely to burn it down, and here could be a Poe museum where mementos of all sorts could be gathered under the very roof where Edgar Allan Poe himself passed several years. That genius of his may not transcend to the aspirant, but such a place would be filled with inspiration.

ARTHUR THOMAS DYSON.

Bronx Borough, Aug. 10, 1905.