This is a new feature debuting today here at Macabre Republic. Starting with Alabama (then proceeding in alphabetical order on a weekly basis), I will be choosing what I deem to be the most Gothic-sounding town/city name in each of the fifty states in America.
A couple of disclaimers before getting started...First, my choice is based solely on the place name itself; I'm making no judgment on the actual town/city or the real-life people who happen to reside there. Also, given that there are hundreds upon hundreds of candidates to choose from in each state, some worthy names might end up flying under my macabre radar. If you feel that I have overlooked an appellation that conveys a strong sense of American Gothic, you can always cite that particular place in the Comments section of the post.
Now, onto Alabama:
I discovered several intriguing names in the course of my research. Places like Pathkiller Cove (sounds like the ultimate dead-end town to me), Barlow Landing (layover on the way to Salem's Lot?), Batesville (something tells me the motel business isn't thriving here), Screamer (wonder what the noise ordinances are like in this place), Blow Gourd (just conjures the image of rifles aimed at pumpkins), Burntout (well, at least they're honest about it), Pull Tight (a reference to communal ties or cruel bondage?), and Trickem and Skinem (if these two aren't neighbors, they should be). But none of these are the most Gothic place name in Alabama. That distinction goes to...
Mansion View. This name paints the picture of the spooky house on the hill looming over its surroundings--a scene that can be found in Psycho, 'Salem's Lot, and countless other books and movies. Such setting represents an American translation of a European Gothic hallmark: the isolated castle perched atop a mountain.
And if the view is daunting from without (cf. Eleanor's reaction to the titular domicile in The Haunting of Hill House), imagine what that old mansion looks like on the inside.
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