At the intersection of East Fifth and Trinity streets in Austin, Texas, a charming Queen Anne-style house sits on a patch of green among the downtown’s concrete and skyscrapers. It is easy to pass by, especially if you’re rushing to get onto nearby Interstate 35. But find a place to park, go walk in the shade of the large tree in the front yard, and take the time to explore the home of one of America’s enduring authors, William Sydney Porter—better known as O. Henry.
He’s best known for his many short stories with “a twist at the end,” such as “The Gift of the Magi” or “The Ransom of Red Chief.” Between 1899 and his death in 1910, he composed over 600 short stories, something he began writing to support his daughter while he was in prison for embezzlement. There is continuing debate about his guilt. He married Sara Lindsay Coleman in Austin in 1882, but they separated in 1907.
The little house with the gingerbread trim at 409 East Fifth Street now houses the O. Henry Museum and contains artifacts and memorabilia from the 13 years Porter lived in Austin. He occupied the house from 1893 to 1895. At that time it stood at what is now 308 E. Fourth Street. It was moved in 1934 to preserve it.
At certain times the museum hosts special events and exhibits; February features a display of Victorian Valentine’s Day cards, for example. The best—or at least the funniest—time to visit is when the O. Henry Pun-Off is held, as it has been one day each May since 1977. Porter employed puns in his work, and this contest gleefully celebrates what is often berated as the lowest form of humor, bringing contestants onstage behind the house to tell shaggy dog stories and to create impromptu puns for head-to-head competition in categories such as “dogs” or “cities”—to prove who’s the top punslinger, so to speak. It was the one day each year that my humor was socially acceptable when I lived in Austin. And yes, I still display my trophies from the years when I won these, ah, Porter-house stakes.
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