Featuring dramatic recitations from the pen of the master of mystery and macabre, “An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe” will take place at Waterloo’s historic Peterstown House at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13.

Listen as historic interpreter and actor Anne Louise Williams shares some of the author’s most memorable works. Anne has performed in New York, Philadelphia, Richmond, and throughout the Saint Louis region. She will recite from memory several selections, including:
“The Black Cat”
“The Tell-Tale Heart”
“The Cask of Amantillado”
“The Oval Portrait”
“Morella”
“The Masque of the Red Death”
“The Fall of the House of Usher” (abridged)
“The Raven”
“Annabelle Lee”
And other poems.

Best known for his poetry and short stories, Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who gained fame during the early 19th century.. He was born in Boston, the second child of actors, on Jan. 19, 1809, and died under mysterious circumstances in Baltimore at age 40 on Oct. 7, 1849 (both cause of death and circumstances leading up to it).

After enlisting in the Army in 1827, he published his first collection of poems. When he failed as an officer cadet at West Point, he decided to become a writer, and switched to prose.

He worked for literary journals and periodicals, and became known for his literary criticism, moving between Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City. At age 27, he married Virginia Clemm, his 13-year-old cousin, and she died of tuberculosis in 1847. He published his poem “The Raven” to instant success in 1845.

Known for his impact on literature throughout the world, his writings are part of popular culture in art, photography, music, movies and television. The Mystery Writers of America present the annual Edgar Awards for distinguished work in the mystery genre.

This event is for ages 17+. Ticket pricing: $16 per person in advance, $20 per person at the door

Please send us a private message to purchase tickets. Phone is 618-939-4222 and email is: peterstownheritagesociety@gmail.com. You may also visit us Saturday and Sunday between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Oct. 12 and 13 to purchase and pick-up tickets. Those are the regular visiting hours, or by appointment.

50% of the proceeds will benefit the Peterstown Heritage Society (501c3), and to go towards the preservation of the Peterstown House.

Peterstown House is the last remaining-intact stage stop along the Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail and Waterloo’s first museum. The colonial saltbox building was constructed in the mid-1830s. then an addition was placed on its north side around the 1860s. Emory Peter Rogers, who first owned the house, and bought it for back taxes for $4.

The house was later an inn and stagecoach stop along the Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail, the first road in Illinois, which connected the French settlements at Kaskaskia and Cahokia. In the late 19th century, the Peterstown House became a social hall. 

The Peterstown Heritage Society operates a museum in the house, with exhibits featuring antique furniture and artifacts of the mid-1880s as well as other pieces from different eras. The original room is laid out as a early 18th century country store. Two log cabins, both over 100 years old, have been relocated to the property. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Nov. 16, 1977.

The Peterstown Heritage Society was formed in 1973 after the Monroe County Historical Society found out the historic building was slated to be razed by the property’s new owner.

According to President Andrew Juelfs, the group would not be around 51 years later if it weren’t for all of the hard-working volunteers that saved the building from demolition. “They put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into the initial restoration and creation of our beautiful museum,” he said.

“Our volunteers still keep us going strong! If you are passionate about the preservation of historic places, history and/or museums, please consider volunteering your time with us. It takes people like you to keep us going,” Juelfs said.

For more information, visit the website: peterstownheritagesociety.org.