First, we hope you will attend the Lions Club dinner Thursday evening at 6 p.m. and the dessert auction to follow. Proceeds will be apportioned between scholarships and the Friends of the Ferguson. In addition, the 2024 membership drive is underway: $25 individual; $35 family and $50 business membership.
The Friends of the Ferguson Home had its first meeting of 2024. Four board members including Connie Burcham, President; Mary Larson, Treasurer; Joe Bryan Secretary; Todd Lafferty, member at Large; Roy Espy, Site Director; and three members attended. The site director reported on activities at the Ferguson Home, 1892 Watonga jail and 1880s calvary station. We are all very grateful for the support of some 360 in state and 26 out of state visitors since June 1. Some 626 hours of volunteer time were logged, and 13 activities were conducted at the Ferguson.
The numbers do not reflect presentations to the Lions Club, the Kiwanis Club and P.E.O., nor do they reflect the approximately 100 seniors in high school and their sponsors who attended the daylong TB and Elva Ferguson Good Government Seminar on Oklahoma Statehood Day, Nov. 16, nor many who visited the Friends of the Ferguson booths at the holiday bazaars at the fairgrounds and city hall. All these activities add social, cultural and educational value to the city and state.
The Friends of the Ferguson strive to support the City of Watonga, the owner of the buildings, in educational and cultural activities, as well as monetary support of the 122-yearold mansion. The city had an expert evaluation of the building, and it was estimated that it will cost perhaps $300,000 to put the building back in top shape. Wheeler Brothers has offered $15,000 plus $10,000 in matching funds, and another $10,000 in matching funds is on the table. Matching funds means that each donation, up to a total of $10,000 will be doubled. We have received some generous donations, and in 2024 we plan to increase our efforts to develop partners among individuals, clubs and organizations, and industry. If you can assist, please contact any of the officers or mail contributions to 521 N. Weigle. In addition, the 2024 membership drive is underway: $25 individual; $35 family and $50 business memberships.
The Friends of the Ferguson Home is similar to two other organizations that support city functions. The Friends of Roman Nose support activities at the cityowned, state- leased Roman Nose State Park. The Friends of the Library support many activities beyond what the city funds. In a sense, we are like the Liberty Theater and the Watonga Community Theater, Inc. The city owns the Liberty Theater building and leases the theater to the not for profit for a nominal ($1/year) amount. The theater provides unique educational, theatrical and musical entertainment. With the Ferguson, the lease agreement indicates the city provides real property and personal property insurance, and electrical, water, sewer, natural gas, trash, phone line and basic internet as well as mowing and lawn maintenance. The Friends provide the salary of the site director and workmen’s compensation, and volunteers who provide the many cultural and educational activities. The annual lease expires June 30, and we hope this mutually beneficial arrangement can be renewed.
The Friends’ goal is to return the museum to its original 1972 status as one of the state’s top tourism attractions. Only 60, 70 and 90 miles from three of Oklahoma’s most populous centers, and just off 1-40 and U.S. 66, between the Great Western and Chisholm Cattle Trails, the museum is well situated for tourism.