Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Mini Bio on Mark Twain... watch:)


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Don't forget to give your paddle boats a try in the tub and 5 Twain quotes due next week.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Mark Twain coming up this week...
We have a fun, hands-on project this week, so be ready to get busy in class!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Nevermore...

 Poe's original burial place in the back-rear corner of Westminster Hall & Burial Ground.
October, 1849


New grave site towards the front of the church.
October, 1875

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.


 A photo of the Poe Toaster. 


I know some of you thought this was a funny idea.



Next week; The Life and Times of Mark Twain.