Things are moving at the TB Ferguson Home.
Under guidance from President Connie Burcham and Board Member at Large Todd Lafferty, as of April 18, 2023, the Friends of the Ferguson Home now has an agreement with the City of Watonga, the owner of the TB Ferguson Home.
On Friday, April 28 the Friends of the Ferguson will host 50 9th graders to tour the home, learn about the Fergusons’ participation in Oklahoma Land Runs, the 1893 Watonga Jail and 1880s Cavalry Station that was northwest of town on the North Canadian River. They will learn about the political service of the Fergusons.
The Annual Ferguson Tea will be from 2-4 PM Saturday May 6 at the Baptist Church. For tickets, contact Janine Espy at 907252-1866. This will be a fun and informative activity and help with much needed funds.
Speaking of the City of Watonga, one might ask why the city would own the TB Ferguson Home. First, the museum promotes community pride. TB and Elva Ferguson, as Governor and First Lady of Oklahoma Territory for more than four years make Watonga proud. As proprietor and editors of the Watonga Republican, their influence for the good of the city have long been felt. As forward-thinking citizens, Watonga benefits from the library, clubs and political influence the Fergusons advanced.
The second reason the city should support the museum as community infrastructure is for the education of its citizens of all ages. As noted above, the Ferguson will host 50 9th graders this week and has hosted 3rd graders routinely in the past. But adults, too, learn from the museum as it recounts the installation of running water, electricity, and sewage, none of which existed when the home was built in 1901. From the Ferguson Home, we learn about the beginnings of our young state, law and order, WWI, which took the life of their son, early writing of historical novels and resulting award winning films, architecture, etc.
Third, the city should support the museum as community infrastructure to promote tourism. During the first 15 years of the museum from 1972 to 1989, some 55,000 persons, many from out of town and out of state, visited the museum. The Ferguson Home was voted the outstanding tourism attraction in Oklahoma for the year 1981 by the Oklahoma Tourism Department