Dear Editor, The Ferguson Museum has been an important part of the city of Watonga since it opened Oct. 3, 1972, fifty years ago. The 16member Mother’s Self Culture Club, later renamed GFWC/ Watonga Women’s Club, with the foresight of then club president Mrs. Max Shaw (Ellen), purchased the property in 1967 to serve as a museum. With great support from the citizens and businessmen of Watonga, and later the State of Oklahoma, the home, which was begun in 1901, was restored, including the twostory balcony. The 1897 wooden Watonga jail, and a calvary remount station where soldiers from Ft. Sill, Ft. Reno and Ft. Supply stayed to keep peace between the Northern and Southern Cheyenne, were added to the property. Then, on Oct. 3, 1972, a grand opening was held with many dignitaries.
From Ellen Shaw’s book “This Old House… In Watonga”, almost 55,000 visitors were entertained and educated at the museum during its first fifteen years through 1987. Astonishingly, 1020% of visitors were from out of state and foreign countries. Europeans and Asians love the American West and its history. Some of the largest numbers of visitors occurred during Cheese Festivals.
The museum is an important asset to the city and an important part of Oklahoma, United States and Hollywood heritage. The museum was the home of T.B. and Elva Ferguson. Arriving for the second time in Oklahoma Oct. 1, 1892 with printing press equipment, the Fergusons opened The Watonga Republican. In 1901, TB Ferguson was chosen by President Theodore Roosevelt as the sixth Territorial Governor of Oklahoma, a position he served in Guthrie, OK, the then capital, from January 1902 until January 1906. The book “Cimarron” by Edna Ferber was written while the author stayed in the house. The 1931 movie, starring Richard Dix, which parallels the life of the Fergusons is the first western to receive an academy award for best picture. It was remade in 1960 starring Glen Ford. These movies grossed over $5 million.
The Ferguson Home and museum is not only a window into Watonga’s and Oklahoma’s past, but also our future. What great heritage we have in a home built and owned by a “law and order” leader of the Oklahoma Republican Party and Methodist minister. One might say this is symbolized by the 1897 jail, and a remount station that had an important function in keeping peace among native Americans. The foresight and diligence of the Mother’s Self Culture Club and the community to overcome many obstacles to create a museum that has been an economic and cultural engine to the region through visitors to Watonga is to be commended. Private individuals who have donated period (up to 1921) articles are to be thanked. Members of the Friends of the Ferguson, which support the museum, and the City of Watonga, which now owns the building, are all part of the proud past and key to the future.
The Ferguson is a window into the future as well. The great heritage, values and western culture of the Ferguson can now be seen not only in person, but with the installation of fiber optic internet access, there is an opportunity to share the museum and all it represents virtually with current and future generations locally and around the world.
Let us give a fitting golden anniversary celebration for the Ferguson Museum. Joe P. Bryan