Ashtyn Asay New Jersey has plenty of historic homes, but one Union County house has an especially spooky claim to fame. A historic home on Elm Street in Westfield is believed to have inspired the home of The Addams Family, the iconic fictional family known for its dark humor and macabre style. The connection goes back to the show’s creator, Charles Addams, who grew up in Westfield and drew inspiration from the town’s architecture and surroundings. Here’s what to know about the house and its connection to one of pop culture’s creepiest, kookiest families.
The Westfield House Behind The Addams Family
Charles Addams, the cartoonist behind The Addams Family, was born in 1912 and raised in Westfield. According to Smithsonian Magazine, he introduced the family in a series of cartoons for The New Yorker in 1938. The characters would eventually become a cultural phenomenon, inspiring television shows, movies, a Broadway musical, animated films, and the hit Netflix series Wednesday.
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According to a plaque outside the historic Elm Street home, Addams passed the house on his way to Westfield High School, which he graduated from in 1929, and later on his way to Westfield Station to commute to work in New York City. Built in 1869, the Second Empire-style home features a mansard roof, ornate architectural details, and the kind of dramatic silhouette and historic charm that feels right at home in the world of Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, and the rest of the family. While the Addams family’s fictional mansion was never a replica of a single real-life building, the Westfield house is widely recognized as the inspiration behind its design.
A note for visitors: The home is a private residence, so anyone hoping to see it in person should admire it from the public sidewalk and respect the privacy of its residents.
Charles Addams’ Westfield Roots
The connection between Westfield and The Addams Family goes well beyond one historic home. According to the self-guided tour for the Charles Addams Heritage Trail, another local landmark associated with Addams’ childhood is the Presbyterian Church Burial Grounds. He reportedly spent time there as a child, despite having what is described as a happy childhood.
Today, visitors can explore places connected to Addams’ life in Westfield along the Charles Addams Heritage Trail, a self-guided, 1.5-mile route featuring sites tied to the cartoonist’s childhood and creative legacy. Westfield also celebrates its famous former resident every October with AddamsFest, a town-wide celebration featuring art exhibits, themed events, spooky displays, and other activities inspired by his work.
An Addams Family Connection in Hackettstown?
Westfield isn’t the only New Jersey town with a historic home linked to The Addams Family. In Hackettstown, the Jacob C. Allen House on West Moore Street has also earned a reputation as a local version of the fictional mansion.
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Built around 1870, this Second Empire-style Victorian home features a distinctive mansard roof, a tall tower, ornate trim, and historic windows. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 in recognition of its architectural significance.
Although its design certainly fits the creepy, kooky aesthetic, the Hackettstown home’s connection to The Addams Family appears to be local lore rather than a documented source of inspiration for Charles Addams. Its history and striking architecture make it an interesting New Jersey landmark in its own right, but Westfield has the stronger connection to the cartoonist and his creative roots.
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