Black cat birthday and scary story at BookMarx
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STEUBENVILLE -- A dramatic reading of Edgar Allan Poe's short horror story "The Black Cat" was part of Halloween festivities at Steubenville's BookMarx Bookstore, along with a birthday celebration for the store's very own feline mascot.
Two Franciscan University of Steubenville professors shared background on Poe, an early nineteenth-century Gothic horror poet, along with the short story about a black cat and a man driven to murder. The story was fitting, as the bookstore celebrated the 11th birthday of its own black cat and live-in mascot, Raven, who was named after one of Poe's poems by the bookstore's former owners, Peter and Patricia Marx.
"Raven showed up as a stray," said John Kuhner, current co-owner of the bookstore with his wife, Catherine Kuhner. "She just walked in a little over 10 years ago. She was a grown cat by the time she arrived, and we don't know her birthday, so the time we celebrate it is Halloween.
"She's not always social, being a cat, but she decided to join us for this event on this place of honor," said Kuhner, pointing at Raven as she was lying on a stool.
The downtown bookstore was dimly lit, illuminated by jack-o'-lanterns perched on bookshelves. Apart from pumpkins carved by the Kuhners' children, other jack-o'-lanterns carved by Ayla Wolfram depicted a black cat and a raven.
Attendees were treated to snacks, including "monster maple scones" made by Shannon Federoff and Amontillado wine -- a reference to Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado." A chocolate cake was honorarily presented to Raven as she slunk under a table and as attendees sang "Happy Birthday."
Many attended the party in costume, such as Dominic Antony, whose friends and he dressed as members of the Fellowship of the Ring from the Lord of the Rings book series.
Kuhner said he wanted to celebrate Halloween on Oct. 31, even though the city of Steubenville held its trick-or-treating three days prior.
"My whole life, I've loved Halloween," Kuhner said. "I think it's wonderful to have an opportunity to share that with the public. Also, as a university town, we have access to people who really know a lot about (the holiday)."
Aaron Urbanczyk, a professor of English at the university, gave the first presentation, focusing on the life and legacy of Poe. He started by reading Poe's poem "Alone," which he said provides a good beginning perspective on "the turbulent, interesting and mysterious life of Edgar Poe."
Poe, who lived from 1809 to 1849, had a difficult life, Urbanczyk said. Both of Poe's biological parents were actors, with his father dropping out of law school to pursue the profession. Also, Urbanczyk said, many in Poe's life died of the bacterial disease of the lung tuberculosis, including his mother and wife.
"You know you've made it when an NFL franchise names itself after one of your poems," Urbanczyk said, referring to the Baltimore Ravens. "I have this fantasy in my mind that, every Sunday, before the game, (the players) all get together and read 'The Raven.'"
Poe was born in Boston but was raised in Virginia. After being discharged from the military, he decided to become a poet and began writing for different publications, moving between various cities.
The poet struggled to make ends meet, Urbanczyk said, although his breakout poem "The Raven" earned him plenty of notoriety. However, Poe died in 1849, with the circumstances around his death being "shrouded in mystery" -- he was found in a ditch wearing someone else's clothes.
Urbanczyk said Poe was a gifted writer who pioneered the detective story genre and experimented with poetry's rhythm and meter. His works' themes often played with the border between sanity and insanity, as well as the mystery of life and death.
"His art creates art. It generates more and more," Urbanczyk said of Poe's legacy.
Following was a spirited reading of "The Black Cat" by John Haynes Walker, professor of theater at Franciscan, who read the story in a "Southern lilt" to capture Poe's Southern upbringing. Beforehand, Walker thanked John Kuhner for hosting the bookstore's community events, including one on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. that will compare translations of the epic "Beowulf" by J.R.R. Tolkien and Franciscan University professor Ben Reinhard.
Walker said of the short story: "It may be one of Poe's strongest warnings against alcoholism."
Attendee Becca Walker, who had never heard "The Black Cat" before, said the story was "brutal."