I’m sorry the T. B. Ferguson Home Museum hasn’t been open this week or that I didn’t write a feature last week, but since the museum hasn’t been open, I can’t report on visitors. I do know some were disappointed during the Watonga Cheese Festival that it wasn’t open. I had a lady called, wanting a tour. When I told her I wasn’t able to be there she was upset.
I did have a lady that used to live in Blaine County call to tell me she really enjoyed reading the weekly feature. She said she still gets the Watonga Republican so she could keep up with what is happening around here. That kind of made up for the lady that called during the Watonga Cheese Festival.
Mrs. Ferguson writes in her book, They Carried the Torch, in June 1896 William J. Bryan and William McKinley were running for president and McKinley was elected with rejoicing among the Republican editors. There was a meeting of the Republicans League in El Reno. Some of those who took part from Oklahoma Territory were Bill Grimes, Dennis Flynn, T.B. Ferguson, Seymour Price, Selwyn Douglas, A.C. Scott, Harry Thompson and Bird McGuire. She said one of the President’s first acts was to appoint C.M. Barnes as governor. The Barnes administration went in with a flourish, but he made enemies even in his own party. The last two years of his term he spent most of the time in Washington, D.C. defending the various charges filed against him. Barnes was the Territorial governor 18971901. Next was William M. Jenkins 1901, William C. Grimes 1901 and then Thompson B. Ferguson 1901-1906. That made four governors in 1901.
Our museum site director has recently resigned. So, the museum needs a new site director. There will soon be new people in charge of the Friends of the Ferguson Home Museum so the museum can stay open and be better than ever. Louise Dunn and I are so glad someone has stepped up so the museum can continue. October is the 50th anniversary of the T.B. Ferguson Home Museum being open as a museum.
If you are interested in the job as site director, call the museum at 580-623-5096 and leave a message. You must leave a call back number because there isn't a caller id. Anyone that wants to become an active volunteer or become a member of Friends of Ferguson Home is welcome, all help is appreciated.
Hours of operation are Wednesday thru Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed city and state holidays. Please call before coming to make sure it is open since we are shorthanded. Give us a call at 580623-5069 to make arrangements for an after-hours tour.