Could The Addams Family’s Home Be From Central New York?
A curious rumor from Central New York connects The Addams Family’s iconic mansion to a real college building, stirring intrigue with compelling details.
The Connection to Syracuse University
For years, some have suggested that the gothic mansion of Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, and Pugsley Addams was inspired by Syracuse University’s Hall of Languages. Designed in 1873 by Horatio Nelson White, this Second Empire style building features spooky towers, elaborate windows, and a distinctly eerie charm that fits the Addams Family aesthetic perfectly.
Evidence Supporting the Legend
According to syracuse.com, a local tie keeps this theory alive. Seaman Jacobs, a screenwriter for The Addams Family and other beloved sitcoms, graduated from Syracuse University in 1932. He also contributed to the campus humor magazine, The Orange Peel. Notably, one of his 1964 scripts for the show is preserved in the university’s special collections.
Further Fuel from a Biographer
Author Victor Bockris, in his 1994 biography Transformer: The Lou Reed Story, added to the speculation by describing the Hall of Languages as looking like “something straight out of a horror movie about college life.” He mentioned that one of the show’s writers, who attended Syracuse around the same time as Lou Reed, reportedly used the building as the model for the Addams’ home. However, Bockris did not identify this writer, and the story remains unproven.
"The Hall of Languages looked like something 'straight out of a horror movie about college life,' and one of the show’s writers used it as inspiration for the Addams’ home."
This intriguing local legend ties Central New York architecture to a classic TV icon but lacks definitive proof.
Author's summary: The Syracuse University Hall of Languages is rumored to have inspired The Addams Family mansion, linked by local ties and screenwriter alumni, though the connection remains unconfirmed.