Work! Work! Work!
You may have noticed the T.B. Ferguson home has been closed for most of this winter but what you may not have noticed is all the hard work that is going on to remedy this situation.
First off, we are overdue in recognizing the efforts, dedication, and hard work of Louise Griffin and Louise Dunn who have brought us to this present time. They served the Friends of the T.B. Ferguson Home as Board Members, fund raisers, friend raisers, writing articles, and so much more, all while keeping the doors open for tours. We are so grateful to them and say a big “Thank you” to these fine public servants. Please join us in honoring them at an open house event from 3.30-5:30 p.m. on March 17 at the Watonga Library. This date is the birthday of T.B. Ferguson so cake and punch will be served.
In October a new Board of Directors of the Friends of the T.B. Ferguson House were elected as follows: President Connie Burcham, Vice President Esther Arnold, Secretary Joe Bryan, Treasurer Mary Larson, and Member at Large Todd Lafferty. They have put their hands to many tasks including friend raising and reorganizing. Their next order of business is to work with the City of Watonga, the owners of the T.B. Ferguson House, to iron out a contract with details about utility bills and a site director.
In February the Board of Directors along with the Friends Group held a work session. Lots of ideas and needs were discussed. The top three priorities were determined to be 1. The contract with the City of Watonga; 2. Renovation of the exterior of the home; and 3. A Good Government Symposium in Watonga. Another priority will be updating and maintaining the Facebook and web page.
There are exciting possibilities regarding the renovations. A list of the repairs, a list of possible contractors, the cost of repairs, and how it will be funded are all part of the considerations. The Board and the City have simultaneously been looking into how to accomplish this. Things will be progressing, but it all takes time to properly carry this work through. The city has entered into an agreement with Old House Rescue to create a plan and priority list for repairs.
Wheeler Brothers has stepped up with a pledge of $15,000 plus an additional amount up to $10,000 in matching funds as an incentive for other donations for this project.
When T.B. Ferguson was appointed as Territorial Governor of Oklahoma, he was known to be a man of high integrity and honesty. His business was run with unquestionable ethics. To carry his legacy forward, the third priority of the Board is to conduct a Good Government Symposium in Watonga, possibly in conjunction with statehood day in November of this year. This would bejust the beginning of bringing a focus on education through the T.B. Ferguson Home to the students and citizens of Watonga, as well as out of town visitors.
If you are interested in being a part of the Friends of the T.B. Ferguson Home contact one of the Board members. We meet monthly and would love to have you join us. Our next meeting willbe at 5:15 p.m. on March 9, at the Watonga Library. There is lots of work to be done and a job for you.
Together, we can continue the legacy the Fergusons began for Watonga and Oklahoma