Port City Pulse
Posts
Here's to the Halloweeners

Here's to the Halloweeners

IN THIS ISSUE: A local ghost story, Dracula performance at UNCW

Jason @ Port City Pulse
October 31, 2023

TUESDAYS TOGETHER WITH YOU

Happy Halloween Wilmington!

Here’s to the people that go out of their way to make Halloween special: The neighbors that give out the full-size candy bars. The families that go all out with their decorations. The moms and dads that pull all-nighters working on their kids’ costumes. The friends that open their homes to have a great party. The artists like Michael Jackson who’s unearthly talent put together with Vincent Price’s voice made a masterpiece that changed the way we think about Halloween forever. The close friend that loves Halloween so much you can bet that he or she will be be dressed as one out of three of their favorite characters every single year! Here’s to all of those people on Halloween.

NEWS..OK..today’s news is scary enough. Let’s just skip the news for today.

Bring in your delicate plants and bundle up your guys and ghouls because it’s going to be a cold night of trick-or-treating!

In today’s PortCityPulse:

Local ghost story
Best Horror Movies of All time
Pick up dinner early at this BBQ fundraiser

The Chilling Story of Samuel Jocelyn

In the eerie depths of history, there lies a tale that sends shivers down the spine of all who hear it. It unfolds in the early 1800s, in the shadowed heart of Wilmington, North Carolina. There, the well-respected Samuel Jocelyn lived, son of a local lawyer, basking in the respect that his family name had garnered. But this story isn't about his life; it's about the chilling pact he made with his closest friend, Alexander Hostler.

One dark evening, in the company of friends, an unsettling idea emerged – the return from the dead to haunt the living. Most dismissed it as a mere jest, but Sam and Alexander embraced it with an unnerving fervor. Little did they know that their sinister pact would soon be tested.

Sam, with his love for horses, often found solace in the wooded trails near his home. One fateful day, as he rode through the wilderness, an inexplicable calamity struck. Sam was discovered, unresponsive, lying on a desolate trail, his loyal steed grazing nearby. Medical science failed to awaken him, and two days later, the lifeless body of Sam Jocelyn was interred in St. James Church cemetery.

Alexander, consumed by grief, was teetering on the edge of madness. But then, on the second night following Sam's burial, a ghostly specter materialized before him. It was the ethereal form of his dear friend, Sam, who questioned, "How could you let me be buried when I am not yet dead?" The apparition vanished, leaving Alexander horrified and bewildered.

As doubt gnawed at Alexander, the ghost returned the following night, its urgency increasing. "How could you let me be buried when I am not yet dead?" Sam implored, his voice filled with desperation. Alexander finally accepted the reality of the spectral visitations but hesitated to reveal the truth to others.

On the third night, the ghost's plea intensified, and Alexander could bear it no longer. He confided in his friend, Louis Toomer, who agreed to help, not for the sake of Sam but to preserve what was left of Alexander's sanity. They obtained permission from Sam's family to unearth the casket, under the cloak of night, to prevent whispers of madness.

With shovels in hand, they ventured to St. James cemetery, shrouded in darkness, and began the macabre task. As they uncovered the casket, they lowered a lantern into the pit. There, within the coffin, lay Sam, but he was not at rest as he should have been. His lifeless form was face down, and the wooden lid bore the scars of his desperate struggle. The young man had not met his end on that desolate trail but had suffered a horrific death, suffocated by the soil of his premature burial.

For a year, Alexander Hostler was haunted by remorse. He sat alone, night after night, beside the grave of his friend, mumbling repeatedly, "I'm sorry, I didn't know. I'm sorry, I didn't know." The chilling tale of Samuel Jocelyn's spectral return and his harrowing ordeal endures as a dark reminder of the fear that unites us all—the fear of being buried alive.

Samuel Russell Jocelyn, Jr. is still buried at Saint James Churchyard Cemetery in Wilmington.

101 Best Horror Movies of All Time

Rolling Stone compiled a comprehensive list of what they feel are the best 101 horror movies of all time. I must say it’s a great list and it’s done rather well. I personally can’t stand to watch anything too-too scary but I do have a lot of favorites that are in here. Enjoy!

Reply back to this newsletter or send an email to [email protected]

Dracula performed by UNCW Theater Department

This adaptation brings the suspense and seduction of Bram Stoker’s classic novel to the stage. As Count Dracula begins to exert his will upon the residents of London, they try to piece together the clues of his appearances—in a valiant attempt to save themselves from a hideous fate. Rich with both humor and horror, this play paints a wickedly theatrical picture of Stoker’s famous vampire.

Disclaimer: Blood, violent content, vampires, and dark themes. Parental guidance is recommended for younger viewers.

October 26-29, November 2-5 and November 9-12
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30
Saturdays and Sunday at 2:00 pm

Halloween BBQ Fundraiser

TODAY 11AM–2PM
Avoid that last minute “What’s for dinner?” tonight. Stop by 1214 Kidder St and pick up dinner for just $10/plate. The proceeds of your purchase will go towards the purchase of a handicap accessible bus.

Location: 1214 Kidder Street Wilmington, NC 28401