Sometimes the Best Discoveries Happen When Things Don’t Go as Planned.

My daughter had a school field trip today to visit Edgar Allan Poe’s house, and as a writer, I was way too excited. When I heard where they were going, I did what any overly enthusiastic book-loving mom would do. I volunteered to drive the hour and a half so I could join the fun.

In my mind, I was already picturing cobwebs, candlelight, and mysterious whispers of “Nevermore.” I thought I was about to step straight into the world of the Edgar Allan Poe, the dark, dramatic poet who gave us ravens, haunted hearts, and eerie tales that stay with you long after you close the book.

Here’s what we learned right away: the Edgar Allan Poe who lived in North Carolina is not the famous author. This Edgar Allan Poe was actually a businessman, born in 1871, decades after the writer’s death in 1849. He was a successful industrialist and civic leader who built a good life in North Carolina, known for his hard work and generosity, not his haunting poetry. And I have to ask, am I the only one who didn’t know there were two Edgar Allan Poes? Because that little fact completely caught me off guard.

At first, I’ll admit I was a little disappointed. I had come ready to soak in all things gothic and literary. But once we stepped inside his home, any trace of disappointment vanished. The house itself was absolutely beautiful, elegant, grand, and just the right amount of spooky. The original Victorian décor had so much character that it didn’t even need Halloween decorations to feel festive. Still, the caretakers had added authentic Victorian Halloween touches, and it was such a treat to see.

Back in the late 1800s, Halloween was not about costumes and candy like it is now. It was celebrated with parlor games, storytelling, and little fortunes meant to predict love or luck for the year ahead. They even shared one of those original games with us, and it was both hilarious and surprisingly fun. It made the whole experience feel like stepping back in time, a perfect mix of history and imagination.

We also learned a lot about life during World War I and how families like the Poes lived during that time. The house was filled with original furniture and keepsakes, the kind of things that make history feel real. You could almost picture the family gathered around the piano in the parlor or hosting elegant dinners under the soft glow of gaslight. It felt like the walls themselves had stories to tell.

But beyond all the history and beauty, what I took away most from the day was a simple reminder about life:

Even when life isn’t what you expected or doesn’t go the way you thought, there’s always something to learn, and you can always find the joy.

I went expecting to dive into the world of a gloomy poet, and instead I found something completely different, a story of family, creativity, and grace. It reminded me that joy does not always show up the way we picture it, but it is always there if we are open to finding it.

So no, we did not meet the ghost of the Edgar Allan Poe, but we still came home with a story worth telling and a happy reminder that sometimes the best discoveries happen when things don’t go as planned.

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