This week, third graders in Watonga Public Schools visited the T.B. Ferguson Home Museum. Thompson Benton Ferguson and Elva Ferguson had two sons, Walter Scott Ferguson born in 1886 and Thomson (Tom, Trad) Benton Ferguson, Jr who was born May 3, 1891. By the time T.B. Ferguson was called to serve as governor of the Territory of Oklahoma in 1901, Trad was about 10 years of age. This is the age of the third graders who visited the home museum this week. It would be interesting to consider the visit through the eyes of the ten-year old “Trad”.
“Trad” was about 1 ½ years old when his family came to Watonga in October 1892 in two wagons. Moving from a building on Noble to the Victorian Home on the corner of 5th and North Weigle that was constructed in 1901 must have been a big step up in the world. How long, or even if he moved into his second-floor room before moving to Guthrie, the Territorial capital of Oklahoma Territory, is not known to this writer. But assuming he did move in, he would have enjoyed living in this marvelous structure built with hand tools.
He would have enjoyed, as a ten-year old third grader, the large yard, the parlor for greeting and entertaining guests (if he was allowed in this sacred area). The kitchen would have been a warm place, heated by the fireplace and coal burning stove. I expect he played under the beautiful staircase. Upstairs, there was access to the balcony with a great view of the prairie. Other homes in the area such as the house at 5th and Prouty, also on the National Registry of Historic Places, were not constructed until 1903 or later. The balcony would have been a great place to sleep on hot summer nights with big brother Walter Scott Ferguson. The bathroom had a real bathtub and commode, facilities considered real luxuries in that time.
“Trad” had his own room in the NW corner of the second floor. It might be the coldest room in the house with its west and north facing windows. Another area he likely enjoyed is the third floor, with its south, west and north facing windows close to the roof. From there, the view of downtown Watonga, the sunset to the west, and the “Blue Norther” cold fronts are best seen.
Trad must have studied hard as a third grader. He later went on to begin and edit the Shattuck Republican and reported for the Daily Oklahoman before volunteering in WW1 where he was commissioned as Lieutenant Tom Ferguson as part of the new Army Aviation corps. Tragically, he was married for only about six months before succumbing to pneumonia precipitated by the 1919 influenza pandemic. He is buried, alongside his parents, in the Watonga IOOF cemetery.
Third graders visiting the home of then 10year-old “Trad” can learn much from this talented and hard-working son of T.B. and Elva Ferguson.