This week at the Ferguson Home Museum in Watonga, we are managing the summer and getting ready for the fall. Perhaps you saw the ad in the Republican (and perhaps Thomas paper) about an opportunity to serve as site director for the museum. Previously, the City of Watonga supported the site director, but the Friends of the Ferguson now meet that expense by sharing with state agency funding sources.
This is an important, responsible job representing the Ferguson family and home museum to state, national and international guests. There are responsibilities on social and print media, and with area museums, OK Tourism Department, schools, clubs and organizations throughout the NW region.
The city continues to mow and trim the grass. Volunteers Sandra Hightower and Esther Arnold have been weeding and planting in the gardens, and another volunteer waged war on crab grass, goatheads and sand burs.
The interior of the museum needs a good dusting and cleaning of floors and stairs. The 12 rooms could be cleaned by 12 volunteers, each working for one hour. Volunteer hours are very valuable to the organization and the museum. Presently we are applying for a grant from Oklahoma Humanities for speakers. The grant requires a match in funds or volunteer hours. Those volunteer hours are valued at $33 each!
We are working with Northwestern and Southwestern Oklahoma State universities and the local Native American tribes to obtain speakers through an OK Humanities grant.
There are themes each month: November is Native American Heritage month; February is African American Heritage month; March is Women’s History and May is National Preservation month. All are very relevant to the Ferguson Home and Museum.
The Friends of the Ferguson are working with the City of Watonga to obtain evaluations and estimates for painting, windows, storm windows, foundation and roof. Then we must prioritize. Many persons from Watonga, visitors and former Watonga residents have given generously, but it will take a lot to preserve this 123year-old home for the next 50 years.
I strongly believe the effort will pay major dividends for the next generations and our community.
I learned this week that Elva Shartell Ferguson’s brother was a prominent lawyer in OKC. Shartell avenue in OKC is named after him. There is some connection with Classen (as in Classen Circle and Blvd) as well. I hope to research this further.