Around the world, there are tales of otherworldly creatures that appear as terrifying, huge black dogs with glowing red eyes. Most often, they are associated with hell or death and are called hellhounds or devil dogs. They can be found in the folklore and mythology of every ancient culture on earth, being especially prevalent in Greek, Norse, and Celtic mythology. In many areas of the world, tales and sightings of these four-legged dark creatures endure to this day. Even in Alabama, there are several local legends of hellhounds.
The Hellhound of Hines Road
There’s a notorious stretch of road in Gadsden that has been tied to a gruesome local tale for over a century. The more commonly known legend is that of the “Witch of Hines Road.” Supposedly, when several children went missing in the area over a century ago, the townsfolk became suspicious of an old woman who called herself a witch and lived near a pond on Hinds Road. Upon investigation, they found the bodies of the missing children in the pond, having been sacrificed by the old witch. Although the witch escaped, locals have speculated that she left something behind: a supernatural black dog that she had conjured up to protect her property. Locals who have gone to investigate the area late at night have reported hearing the cries and cackles of the old witch. Even more terrifying, they have seen her hellhound with its glowing red eyes and heard its fierce growl in the woods. A few people say they were chased from the area by an enormous black dog.