We had three visitors Saturday from Oklahoma City. The older man said he had been here a long time ago and they brought their daughter out to see the museum. They seemed very interested, he was interested in the antiques and the daughter in the history. She asked lots of question while I was giving the history of the Fergusons. It makes it exciting for me when the visitors interact like they did Saturday. He said he would like to bring another daughter out to see it in the future because she likes antiques.
Clay was out Saturday and did some caulking and was trying to put up a door bell so we can hear someone come in if we are upstairs.
While cleaning Saturday I found we have a 1929 Majestic Electric Radio Receiver Model 90 Cabinet. It was manufactured by Grigsby-Grunow Company, Chicago, Illinois. It would have cost $137.50. The newspaper ad read, “Only Majestic could offer this great new improvement— incorporated in sensationally beautiful new cabinet designs—at still lower prices.” The one we have doesn’t have a radio inside. The article showed that the speaker would have been on the back of cabinet and components with the wires and tubes on the bottom shelf.
In Mrs. Ferguson Book They Carried the Torch she mentioned Blaine County was named after James G. Blaine. I wondered if that was someone living in Oklahoma Territory so I did research and found he was an American statesman and Republican politician who represented Maine in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1863 to 1876, serving as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1869 to 1875, and then in the United States Senate from 1876 to 1881. He also became a newspaper editor after college. The Secretary of the Interior assigned the names of the counties. If T.B. Ferguson had anything to do with it I could see why he would have chosen Blaine with him being a newspaper editor and Republican. She also mentioned the lands were opened at 4:00 pm on April 19, 1892. In the movies they always show it beginning bright and early of a morning. The settlers couldn’t have traveled far before dark. “Watona” was chosen for the name of the county seat by the appointed probate judge but there was an error and a “g” was inserted in the word and Watonga remained.
The annual Chicken Noodle Dinner is Friday March 18, 2022, 5:00 to 7:00 pm, at the Watonga Christian Church. You can dine in, order to be delivered, or get to go. If you want it delivered please call the museum and leave a message before 3:00 pm that day. Be sure and leave your name and call back number because we don’t have caller ID.
Friends of the Library is showing the movie Cimarron Wednesday, February 16, at 1:00 pm at the Watonga Library, 301 N. Prouty. Edna Ferber, author of the book, Cimarron stayed with Mrs. Ferguson while she did research and wrote the book. Mrs. Ferguson travelled by train to California to work with the producers of the film. In Mrs. Ferguson’s writing she said the producers had no idea of how a newspaper was printed back then so she had to give them a lot of input.
The Liberty Theater will also be doing a program on the Orphan Trains, March 1, 2022, at 6:30 at the theater. I think that will be interesting. Try to attend both these programs if you can and show them your support for their effort.
Saturday was our Site Directors last day so if anyone is interested in a 20 hour a week job. They must be interested in caring for the home, giving tours, setting up displays, and helping with events. You can call the home at 580-623-5069 or 580-614-1018.
We always welcome new members and volunteers.
The museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Be sure and leave name and call back number if you get the answering machine.