Halloween is right around the corner, but do you have your costume yet? It seems like for so many of us, Halloween costumes get brushed aside as we age. As soon as we think that we can get away with something simple, like an all-black outfit, we get pulled to the inevitable Halloween party. Now we need an actual costume … and fast. Fortunately, inspiration is all around you – Edenton is rich with costume ideas. A number of notable historical figures lived in this area, and now is a perfect time to pay a tribute to local history by dressing up as one of these icons. Trust me, it’ll definitely stand out from those typical witch and zombie costumes.
Penelope Barker
A trailblazer for American independence and an inspiration to the nation’s patriots, Penelope Barker is a quintessential Edenton character on which to model your Halloween costume. She organized 50 other women in the area, and they became the first ladies in the colonies to publicly protest British rule. They signed a petition against British taxation and boycotted tea taxed under the 1773 Tea Act. For your costume, cultivate the classic Southern belle look with a pink floor-length dress, frilly collar and lacy sleeves. Pull your hair into a bun or ponytail. Finally, walk around with a cup of tea and threaten to dump it on anyone who annoys you (extra points if you opt for a teapot instead of cup).
Samuel Johnston
Samuel Johnston really did do it all – planter, patriot, lawyer, statesman. He served as the first non-royal governor of North Carolina and lived at Hayes Plantation. He presided over both conventions that ratified the Constitution. Following the American Revolution, he was elected for multiple terms for the Continental Congress as one of the state’s first senators. Not quite sure where to begin your Samuel Johnston costume? You could dress in a navy coat or jacket paired with a white ascot and vest. Brush your hair straight back and fluff it a few times. Carry around little copies of the U.S. Constitution and hand them out instead of candy. To make your costume scary, remind any Halloween hoodlums that under the Johnston Act of 1770, rioters are subject to being shot on sight. Just kidding … don’t do that.
Harriet Jacobs
Harriet Jacobs made history with her autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, one of the few recorded and published slave narratives. She was born, raised and labored in Edenton for the Norcom family. After seven years of hiding as a fugitive in her grandmother’s attic on W. King Street, she escaped to the North. There, the revelations revealed by her writing fueled the abolitionist movement. A Harriet Jacobs costume offers a lot of flexibility. You could wear a long, black dress with your hair pulled back (as she’s depicted in her best-known photograph) and carry a journal and pen. Alternatively, dress as she might have in hiding – wear a cap to hide your hair or a vintage and simple dress. To truly channel this costume idea, don’t show up at the party. When people ask where you were, tell them that you went as Harriet Jacobs in hiding.
Jim “Catfish” Hunter
The baseball legend Jim “Catfish” Hunter is one of the area’s most recent claims to fame. While he may not be from Edenton exactly, he grew up in the neighboring town of Hertford. He pitched for the Oakland A’s and later the New York Yankees. During his career, Hunter appeared in six World Series and five World Series Championships. Dressing up as Hunter requires a good color scheme for one of his teams, and the inevitable baseball gear. Wear green and yellow with the number 27 pinned to your shirt to be Hunter during his early career with the A’s. If you prefer the Yankees, your costume will be navy and white. As you accessorize, make sure you include Hunter’s signature mustache in addition to the baseball and glove.
These ideas for Halloween costumes use a lot of materials already on hand, and they come together easily. Prepare your ensemble, head to the Halloween parties and see who can guess your identity. What other ideas do you have for Edenton-inspired Halloween costumes? Share them in the comments section!
If you want to find festive events to check out, our Nightlife listing guides you to everything happening on Halloween night. Don’t forget to check out events during the day, too, on our Daytime Events page.
About the Author Hannah Lee Leidy
Hannah Lee is a fiction and creative nonfiction writer living on the Outer Banks. She graduated from Kenyon College in Ohio with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. Traveling is her passion, but nowhere ever feels as much like home as the Outer Banks. When not planning her next trip or adventure, Hannah Lee loves aimless drives down the Beach Road, spending copious amounts of time in coffee shops and reading every short story collection she gets her hands on. 