Much to my chagrin, I found that this now six months late post was hung up as a draft. So, read about what you missed last June as we get ready to start the Howard Days engine up once again.
HOWARD DAYS will be June 13-14, 2025.
Another Howard Days is over. To those of us who made the journey to Cross Plains, Texas this year to celebrate the Life and Work of Robert E. Howard at the Museum in his name, it was quite the trip!
Without a doubt, the single biggest event of the two-day extravaganza was the installation of Bob Howard's Writing Table back into the room where it belonged. We owe a debt of gratitude to Paul Herman of the REH Foundation for his relentless, tireless work in retrieving this holy grail artifact in the world of REH. Years of research, phone calls, emails, travels and plain ol' pestering got the job done!
The table was brought into the Museum on the Thursday afternoon before the "official" start of Howard Days. It had been restored to its former height by extending the legs and refurbishing them with a laminate. However, the top was not re-done; the tiger oak finish was waxed and buffed, but the worn down areas (we like to think by Bob leaning his arms on it) remain. When viewed, an appreciation for its sturdiness is evident; one can almost hear the heavy clack of Bob's Underwood No.5 typewriter echoing off the table's surface! If only this table could speak!
Howard Days 2024 was moved back to the traditional dates of the second weekend in June. We found that this time is more accommodating for attendance by educators and students. In spite of blistering heat and Texas-sized mosquitoes, the attendance number was up considerably from the late April date of 2023.
Speaking of which, the numbers for 2024 were up considerably, with nearly 300 people who signed the registry book out front. Factoring in the folks who didn't sign in, Howard Days 2024 was one of the best attended in recent years. There were 52 from 21 states not named Texas, 228 Texans and 7 from overseas (France, England, Ireland and Norway). There were over 245 items in the Silent Auction, which raised a considerable sum for Project Pride. Donations were particularly healthy as well, enabling Project Pride to continue the year long maintenance of the REH Museum.
The Museum itself shone like a beacon in the Texas sun, proving the old adage "If you restore it, they will come." Folks to whom we spoke over the weekend were mightily impressed at the entire venue of the REH Museum. Over a third of the Banquet attendees held up their hand when asked, "Who's here for the first time?" They remarked on numerous occasions to this reporter that they had learned a considerable amount about Robert E. Howard over the course of the weekend.
The Pavilion was constantly full of fans enjoying Howard Fellowship. The Hot Dog Lunch on Friday was so popular that the hot dogs ran out! There were 8 tables set up for REH Days dealers in the surrounding yard, highlighted by the Robert E. Howard Foundation Press. The REHFP was selling the ever-dwindling amount of first edition Howard books along with the newer (and most welcomed) reprint editions. And speaking of dealings, the Gift Shop in the Museum was darn near depleted of everything by Saturday afternoon!
The Tours for the weekend went off in fine order. Mark Finn and Rob Roehm took over the Bus Tour of Cross Plains and surrounding areas on Friday; Jack Baum and Rob led an informative Walking Tour of downtown Cross Plains; Paul Herman and Bill Cavalier took folks around the grounds of the Museum to the rear of the house, where Jeff Shanks explained the 2018 archeological dig in the back yard.
The Cross Plains Review once again opened their doors for a viewing of a vintage newspaper printing press room where Howard once worked and provided some excellent Cross Plains/REH souvenirs. Of particular note was a display of what could be Bob Howard's boxing gloves, along with some original photos of REH and his friends.
The Cross Plains Library provided visitors with a wonderful display of original Howard typescripts along with their collection of 1920's & 30's pulp magazines containing Howard stories. Both days there also featured a session of the Conan role-playing game led by Jeb Boyt.
Over at the Cross Plains Post Office, a special cancellation stamp commemorating the newly acquired Howard Writing Table was available, exclusive to Howard Days attendees.
The panels presented this year were loosely based on REH in 1934. Guest of Honor Rob Roehm presented a fine talk about his Travels with Bob. Howard's life and work in 1934 was discussed; the Glenn Lord Symposium presented four papers; an engaging talk about Bob's relationship with and influence of Novalyne Price took place; REH in Pop Culture was extremely informative and the Breckinridge Elkins/El Borak panel entertained all. A number of folks we spoke with were very impressed with the quality of the panels and they were all interesting, informative and very spirited! For certain, each panel turned out to be standing room only, which is 75+! And the Fists at the Icehouse panel worked very well as Fists in the Porchlight.
Friday night's Celebration Banquet was moved back to the Cross Plains Community Center. Project Pride was able to keep the table seating at 150, but as the CC was filled up, they moved the Silent Auction next door to the American Legion Hall. This was a good move, as the nearly 250 items filled 6 rows of tables with a myriad of REH books, magazines, fanzines, paperbacks, comics, original and print art and even laser etched glass and wood. The diversity of items provided for spirited bidding and greatly helped Project Pride with their year-long maintenance of the REH Museum.
Guest of Honor Rob Roehm spoke quite humbly about his Travels with Bob. His passion for research and travel has combined quite nicely over the last two decades in his quest for knowledge about Robert E. Howard. Rob took it upon himself to drive to each and every town REH ever mentioned visiting in search of information about Howard and his family. This includes Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arkansas and Missouri, plus Mexico!
Howard Days 2025 was also graced with other notable REH guests: Jim Zub, the current writer of Titan Comics CONAN THE BARBARIAN comic book was on hand. Charles Hoffman, author of the seminal essay that kicked off Howard scholarship, Conan the Existentialist, was present to celebrate the 50th anniversary of said piece. Authors John C. Hocking and Howard Andrew Jones made the journey to Cross Plains, as did Michael Scott Myers, student of Novalyne Price Ellis and screenwriter for The Whole Wide World, her book detailing her relationship with bob Howard. And Shawn Curley from Heroic Signatures was on hand to video panels and interviews for his You Tube Conan the Barbarian podcast.
However, the one person most missed at Howard Days this year was Rusty Burke. Our dear friend suffered an injury in December of 2023 that has temporarily taken him out of action. As the Founder of Howard Days, his absence was keenly felt. We called him during Howard Days and his voice was strong as he sent along his love to everyone. Hearing how much he missed being at Howard Days put a bittersweet emotion on the weekend but we know he'll be back to Howard Days in 2025.
The Saturday BBQ dinner was served up as a fundraiser for the Cross Plains Library that packed the Pavilion and the donation jar. And the bittersweetness of Porch Light Poetry (this year presented in the shade outside of Bob's room) as the last function of Howard Days brought this year's event to a satisfying close
And for right now, Howard Days 2025 will be held on the traditional second full weekend in June, so out tentative date for next year is the weekend of June 13-14. But stay tuned for an announcement later in the year. And then you can make plans for joining us in Cross Plains where we once again celebrate the Legacy Life and Work of Robert E. Howard
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