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Question: Why did Edgar Allen Poe have two graves !?
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Edgar was originally buried with no headstone at the back rear corner of Westminster Hall & Burial Ground on Monday, October 8, 1849!. His cousin, Neilson Poe, had purchased a white Italian marble headstone for him, but it was destroyed in a train accident (a train derailed and went through the area the headstone was being kept)!.
Years later a poet, Paul Hamilton Hayne, visited his grave, then wrote a newspaper article about what a shabby grave it was and how Edgar deserved something better!. So, a Baltimore public school teacher, Sara Sigourney Rice, took it upon herself to raise the funds needed to accomplish it!. Her work, as well as a generous donation from George William Childs, a Philadelphia publisher and philanthropist, made it all possible!.
A new headstone was designed by architect George A!. Frederick and was then built by Colonel Hugh Sisson!. Included on the headstone was a medallion of Edgar, by an artist named Valck!.
On October 1, 1875, he was reburied towards the front of the church and a ceremony took place to dedicate the new grave site!. The original spot then had another tombstone placed there, by Orin C!. Painter!.
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