Edgar Allan Poe Square - Boston, MA
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NorStar
N 42° 21.152 W 071° 04.045
19T E 329726 N 4690988
The paint on this plaque is barely dry as the corner of Charles Street and Boylston Street was dedicated recently to Edgar Allan Poe, who was born a few blocks from here.
Waymark Code: WM6AMW
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 05/03/2009
Views: 10
On April 27, 2009, Boston had a new square dedicated. This one is the Edgar Allan Poe Square, which is at the junction of Boylston Street and Charles Street, where commerce buildings, Boston Common, and the Boston Public Gardens meet. This dedication was the culmination of effort by a local group of Poe enthusiasts led by a professor of Boston College. Mayor Thomas Menino was present for the dedication ceremonies.
Poe was born near this location, on a section of Carver Street that does not exist anymore (likely the New England School of Law is at the location where he was born). He did not grow up in Boston, but he did return and was in the army serving at Fort Independence in 1827. It is said that the story, "The Cask of Amontillado," was inspired here. He also tried to publish, "Tamerlane and Other Poems" while in Boston but only about 50 copies were sold. His most popular poem is, "The Raven," which was published in 1845.
This is not the first square to be dedicated to Edgar Allan Poe in Boston. Earlier, there was a square at the intersection of Broadway, Fayette, and Carver Streets. On the Bostonhistory.typepad.com site, there is a portion of a map dated 1928 that shows this. This intersection has been altered. Carver Street no longer exists, and Broadway was straightened and renamed Charles Street South. The new Edgar Allan Poe Square is in a more prominent location in the city.
Other Source
Bostonhistory.typepad.com (Old Edgar Allan Poe Square):
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visit link)
Wikipedia Entry (Edgar Allan Poe):
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visit link)